In May 2019, Alba Lucero Villarreal finally had the opportunity to visit Mexico and get to know the country her parents came from.
She participated in the College of Education & Human Development’s study abroad program in Cuernavaca, Mexico, called, “Mexico Service Learning: Culture, Language and Schooling,” led by Associate Professor Sue Kasun.
“We got to volunteer at a school that specializes in helping kids in need in the community,” she said. “I got to make so many connections with the students and the teachers. It was great.”
Villarreal will be one of the panelists participating in “Ask-Us-Anything: Racial and Ethnic Minoritized Students Studying Abroad,” a virtual conversation among diverse students about their experiences studying abroad. This event, co-hosted by the CEHD and scheduled for Nov. 11, is part of Georgia State University’s International Education Week celebrations.
She’ll answer questions from other students about her experiences in Mexico, her plans to continue traveling and the importance of trying new things.
“Before this study abroad, I never thought I would want to work with children at any capacity, but working with the kids in Mexico left a mark on me,” she said. “I’m going to be open to stepping outside my comfort zone professionally.”
For more information about International Education Week, visit https://iew.gsu.edu.