Sophie Clinton 鈥�24 spent a semester in South America studying issues related to human rights and policy, perfecting her Spanish language skills and exploring the Southern Cone.
The 麻花影视 study abroad program, based in Santiago, provides students the opportunity to visit national parks and important cultural sites throughout Chile and in Argentina, Uruguay and other countries as well.
Students at 麻花影视 have access to one of the best international education programs in the nation. Through 麻花影视鈥檚 study abroad program, students can live and learn in more than 60 locations around the world, including at five international centers with dedicated 麻花影视 infrastructure and faculty.
Sophie Clinton 鈥�24 knew early in her academic journey that she wanted to study abroad with the 麻花影视 program in Santiago, Chile. Clinton majors in women鈥檚 and gender studies, political science, and Spanish language, literature and culture, with a minor in atrocity studies, through the and the . A semester in Santiago was a chance to engage in her interests while living with a host family, taking courses alongside Chilean students at a local university, traveling to a range of historically significant sites in multiple South American countries, and possibly interning with a local organization. All this promised a level of cultural immersion that appealed to Clinton, who looked forward to gaining fluency in Spanish and experiencing life in another culture.
A Supportive Community Enables Bold Exploration
Clinton鈥檚 internship at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights helped her clarify her professional goals and opened an assortment of possible next steps in graduate school and the professional world for her to consider.
Clinton鈥檚 time abroad was filled with meaningful experiences. She witnessed the inauguration of Chile鈥檚 new president, Gabriel Boric. She participated in Santiago鈥檚 Pride Parade鈥攐ne of the largest in South America. She relished the friendships she made with Chilean and international peers, and she engaged in an internship at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights that, ultimately, has inspired her to new academic and professional aspirations. 鈥淭o have been in Chile during so many important times鈥攚hile I was also adapting and learning about myself鈥攚as really incredible,鈥� she says.
Clinton says that what made it possible for her to engage in the opportunities presented by study abroad was the close-knit community she formed with the other students and the caring support of the staff in the program. 鈥淢auricio [Mauricio Paredes, program director] works really hard to make sure that each student has opportunities that will be most meaningful to their specific interests,鈥� she explained. 鈥淗e understood what courses and internship options would fit me best and made recommendations that were spot on. I think that speaks to the emphasis on individuality that鈥檚 central to this abroad program.鈥�
An Internship With Global Impact
Clinton interned with the department of education, within the museum. She worked with human rights lawyers and other professionals to develop online courses about human rights and the prevention of genocide. 鈥淔iguring out how to make sure people could engage with this material, and really be able to integrate all of this knowledge into their professional lives, was very challenging and very rewarding,鈥� Clinton says. 鈥淢y internship at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights was the most significant internship that I鈥檝e had. It鈥檚 amazing to know that there are so many people now, throughout the world, who we鈥檝e reached with our courses, and who have been able to learn about these important events.鈥�
Study Abroad Opens New Opportunities
With funding to support undergraduate research, Clinton returned to Chile over the summer to research historical connections between gender and sexuality and human rights abuses.
The work she did for her internship also yielded the focus for an extensive independent research project. 鈥淢y honors thesis will focus on the LGBTQ community, how gender and sexuality play into genocide, and how people and individuals can be rendered as nonhuman through the eyes of a dictator state,鈥� she explained. With funding from the to support undergraduate research, Clinton returned to Santiago this summer to work on this project.
Clinton鈥檚 study abroad experiences helped her gain clarity on her professional goals and opened a range of possible next steps. She may join and earn a master of public administration just one year after earning her bachelor鈥檚. But she is also considering graduate programs in human rights studies or gaining experience in the professional world first, working with an organization focused on human rights. 鈥淢y internship has made so many other experiences possible,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hat I was able to do in Santiago took my favorite parts of all my majors and minor and allowed me to look into the things I鈥檓 interested in in a focused way. It鈥檚 really helped me to come into my career identity.鈥�
