Thank You Letters



Erica Jackson

Program of Emphasis: Spanish/Hispanic Cultures

Hometown: Ebensburg, PA

High School: Bishop Carroll High School

Why I chose to attend Juniata: I chose to attend Juniata because I felt a strong sense of community after visiting one day. After my first visit, I knew it was the perfect school for me. I had heard of their interesting and unique traditions, the variety of clubs, strong academic support, fantastic professors and student testimonies and knew I would be very happy at Juniata.

Clubs and Organizations: Big Brothers, Big Sisters-I attend events with Littles, help plan new events, assist with fundraising, drive Littles when necessary and help the officers with whatever I can. Ski Club-Treasurer (2011)-As treasurer, I ensured that all of the bills with the club were paid on time, was responsible for the purchasing card for the club, made arrangements for transportation, lift tickets and lodging for the winter break trip to Whiteface Mountain in New York, as well as transportation and lift tickets for the semester trips to Tussey Mountain.

Internship: I was an intern in a pharmacy as part of my study abroad experience in Orizaba, Mexico. My responsibilities included waiting on customers, pulling the necessary medicines from the shelf, talking with the customers to improve my Spanish communication skills and asking the staff as many questions as possible to learn about the Mexican healthcare system as well as learning about different drugs. I had access to learning about drugs, interactions, mechanisms and many other things through materials located in the pharmacy.

Travels Abroad: I have studied abroad in Orizaba, Mexico where I completed classes and an internship. The experience improved my Spanish, gave me the opportunity to meet many people and see more of the world. With the university, we visited Puebla and Oaxaca, visiting numerous churches and museums. The highlight of those trips was the trek to Monte Albán, the site of famous ruins. I am currently studying abroad in Seville, Spain for the academic year. It has enabled me to live out my dream of living in Europe. I have the opportunity to visit other countries and see much of Spain. Without the support system of Juniata, I would not have had the courage or the financial means to study abroad for the academic year.

Most Interesting Class: The most interesting class I have taken this year is History of Spanish Cinema in Democracy. The subject matter is Spanish cinema from after the time of the dictator Francisco Franco. It is interesting to learn about the differences in cinema from the time of Franco and after his death. I also enjoy watching the movies of Spanish directors and learning more about Spanish culture through films.

Favorite Faculty Member: Dr. Kirchhof-Glazier has had a tremendous impact on my life. She told me that it was possible to major in Spanish while still taking the pre-pharmacy requirements, which has been a great decision thus far. She also helped me make the decision to study abroad for the full year instead of just one semester, putting things into perspective for me. Without her, I would not have had so many amazing experiences abroad. Her advice has changed my life for the better.

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