Lauren Pankratz finds language and leadership skills, and lifelong friendships.

Hi all! My name is Lauren Pankratz and I graduated with my Bachelors degree in Psychology and Spanish from EKU in 2019. I am currently pursuing a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from EKU and I work for the Department of Educational Leadership and Counselor Education here on campus as a Graduate Assistant. My undergraduate study of Spanish has prepared me for the future in so many ways.

To name a few, I am able to communicate with others in more than just one language, I am more aware of issues that face those who are different from myself, and I am a more professional person. Being bilingual has opened so many doors for me when it comes to job opportunities. When an employer sees that I speak English and Spanish on job applications, they are immediately interested in hiring me because I can communicate with people who speak only Spanish or just feel more comfortable communicating in Spanish than English.

Also, studying Spanish has opened my eyes to issues that affect people who have had different experiences than I have had. In my Spanish classes, we not only learned the Spanish language, but we also learned about things like cultural competency and understanding issues such as immigration and racism.

Another way in which studying Spanish has prepared me for my future is by teaching me professional skills and how to conduct myself in professional situations. During my time studying Spanish, we had many opportunities to attend/ work at events such as Latino College Fair, Camino to Success College Experience Camp, and Latino Open House. At these events, I was given positions of leadership in which I had to conduct myself in a professional way much like in the job field.

In addition to all of these things, I have made many lifelong friends who have become more like my family.

Over all, I cannot express how much studying Spanish has prepared me for my future and improved my life.

Published on October 08, 2020