To continue with John Jay’s celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, we spoke to ¡Adelante! student Josmerlyn Santos Jimenez ’21, a double major in Human Services and Community Justice and Spanish, about her Latinx culture and her experience studying abroad in Spain. Born in the Dominican Republic (D.R.), Santos Jimenez understands the importance of celebrating her Latinx roots. “When I was a little girl, my father would take me on little trips around the island,” she said. “Everywhere we went, he would teach me about the country’s history. I loved learning about the Dominican Republic’s history and would always look forward to these trips.”

What stood out to her during the trips was learning about the country’s colonization by Spain. So, when she heard about the opportunity to study abroad in Salamanca, Spain, she jumped at the chance. “A big part of the history of the Dominican Republic is its colonization by Spain. From what my dad taught me, I know that I have ancestors who are from Spain,” Santos Jimenez said. “I’ve always wanted to connect with the Spanish side of my Latinx heritage. When I saw that John Jay had a study abroad scheduled to Spain, I knew that this would be the best time to venture out and explore my roots.” Spending the spring 2019 semester in Salamanca, Santos Jimenez was able to learn more about her ancestry while volunteering at an immigration law firm, fortifying her desire to work with children.

When you were deciding on a college, what made you say “I want to go to John Jay?”
I’ve always wanted to help children but within the realm of the criminal justice field. I have an eight-year-old sister who has spina bifida. She has always been a great part of my life and has inspired me to work with kids. I want to work with children who have been traumatized or hurt, either physically or mentally. If I can positively impact a child’s life and help turn any terrible situation they have been in, into something that motivates them to succeed and give back to those around them, then I would be incredibly happy.

How did you hear about the study abroad program?
Kenneth Yanes, the Department Director of the Office of International Studies & Programs, actually told me about the study abroad to Spain. There was this information session, so I was able to speak to the individuals who helped me coordinate all the financial aspects of the trip. The coordinator gave me a lot of useful information that enabled me to finance my trip to Spain.

How was your study abroad experience in Spain?
I really enjoyed my time there. I did a homestay, and stayed with a local family. I also took some classes about the Francisco Franco Regime while taking Spanish courses that worked well with my major. I was mainly staying in Salamanca, but any time I had a break from class, I took the opportunity to explore outside of this small town, and traveled to other parts of Spain and Europe. I was able to go to Madrid. I traveled to Italy for spring break. I even went to France and Portugal. This study abroad experience really helped open my eyes to the many cultures outside of the United States.

The people of Spain have very different traditions than we have here. They make it a point to eat together every single day for almost every meal. At eight in the morning, we would sit down and eat breakfast together. Then we would have a two-hour break for lunch—from school or work—go home and eat lunch together. We would do the same for dinner. It’s something so simple, but it made for some great conversations and bonding time. I’ve definitely tried to implement this into my life here, that and eating fruit after my meals.

How does this study abroad experience tie into your future career goals?
During my time in Spain, I was able to volunteer at an immigration law firm called Acoge. There I had the opportunity to work with kids after school. These children came from different countries, some were refugees and would go to Acoge because their parents were either working or trying to get themselves established in the country. I would help them with their homework or teach them Spanish. As someone who is majoring in Spanish, being able to teach kids the language was an amazing experience. And since I would like to have a career working with children after I graduate, this was a good first step. The whole experience was just amazing.

If you could give advice to another student, who may be thinking about studying abroad, what would it be?
I would tell them to do it. I know that it’s not easy, whether financially or because you end up missing your family, but it’s such an amazing experience and you learn so much about yourself. Because of this study abroad experience, I became more independent. I had to navigate my way to my classes, and I really thought that I was bad at following directions, but I learned the best route to get there. I also took trips on my own, something that I probably wouldn’t have ever done here. Studying abroad is the most amazing thing that I’ve experienced, it has allowed me to grow as a student and person, and I strongly encourage everyone to try it.

In an ideal world, 10 years from now, where do you see yourself?
After I graduate from John Jay, I would like to earn a dual degree, and get my master’s in Social Work and a Juris Doctorate. I see myself working with children in a hospital setting, counseling them through difficult times. I would also love to be doing some human services work. I took a class the semester before I went abroad and I had to do a lot of projects with human trafficking. These projects really impacted my life and taught me more about what happens in human trafficking and the countries that are really affected by it. I would love to go abroad again and help tackle this issue.