CIEE Latin America Fellow Spotlight: Abby Russ
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Meet the CIEE Leading Change in Latin America Student Fellows!
Follow along as CIEE sends 100 student leaders on a fully-funded semester abroad through the CIEE Leading Change in Latin America Fellowship. In this series, we spotlight Fellows as they immerse themselves in Latin American culture, grow as leaders, and prepare to make an impact worldwide.
Name: Abby Russ
School: University of South Alabama
LATAM Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Q1: What inspired me to apply for the CIEE Leading Change in Latin America Student Fellowship?
Well, there were many moments that all worked together to lead to the inspired moment where I began my application process. While I pay for my college out-of-pocket, I have not been very inspired in the past to apply for all kinds of scholarships. It’s one of the things that just feel like a cycle of getting your hopes up just for them to be crushed. It can be a very defeating process. That’s why I set my mind on a study abroad program over the Summer. It would be easy, cheap, and I would still have the ability to explore a new place without having to depend on scholarships, just in case. I set my mind to Latin America and began my deep dive search for the perfect program. That’s when I found CIEE. There was an option to study abroad during the Summer and I thought it was the perfect opportunity. Upon beginning the application, my study abroad advisor, and boss, (I was an intern at the Study Abroad Office) told me about the CIEE Leading for Change in Latin America Student Fellowship. This opportunity sounded amazing. And it matched up with my dream to create and travel. So, with her help, I began the process.
Watch here: Abby and her classmates try mate for the first time
Q2: What does receiving this Fellowship mean to me personally?
Well, this is the kind of question that could have an answer that goes on forever. This Fellowship is what began my journey of exploring the world in a more meaningful and intentional way. Over the past month, I have had a purpose in mind when capturing all my moments in Argentina. This purpose has given me the inspiration to post on social media with hopes of becoming a travel content creator.
Ultimately, without this Fellowship, I would not have the chance to spend a semester abroad. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime – one that could lead to the career I’ve worked hard for. It has also given me hope. After being defeated again and again over not being picked for scholarships, not receiving certain jobs, and not having the ability to post travel content on social media, receiving this opportunity has led me to realize that hope is a powerful thing. Hope fuels purpose, and purpose gives meaning to action – without either, we may move, but we don’t truly live. I am inspired to live more than ever now.
Q3: What does "leading for change" mean to me?
Well, the answer is in the question- leading the change. If we are not leading for change, then we would never move. Not as a person, not as a society, and not as a world. One person can be all the difference. Anthony Bourdain showed how empathy and curiosity could challenge cultural assumptions through something as simple as sharing a meal. While a Fellowship may not seem like a spark for global change on the surface, the truth is – you never know the impact until you’re in it.
Leading for change means using your voice and continuing to even when you think no one is listening. Being able to use my voice on social media to discuss Latin America has led me to feel empowered. Many people today just follow the latest trends and highlight the most popular tourist destinations. While this is good for showing how important travel is, it’s keeping the spotlight off of other places and people who are also special. Places that might not get as much attention, but deserve every bit of it. There’s an overabundance of stereotypes driven by social media, diminishing the diversity of cultures into a few viral narratives. This Fellowship means breaking apart those stereotypes and individualizing each country in Latin America
Learning a new language can and has changed many of the ways I see the world. First, it has given me first hand experience on the daily struggles held by many people and immigrants who have to learn a second language in order to work and live. It is not an easy feat. It has been a very humbling process, but even that has taught me something. I've learned the value of humility. Struggling to express even simple thoughts has taught me to approach others with greater empathy, patience, and respect. When something as basic as communication becomes difficult, you begin to understand how isolating and frustrating that experience can be for others. It has also opened up a way to communicate with more people. Many locals have already taught me so much just by having the ability to speak with them in their native language. I have learned how much Argentinians truly love their life and culture and it has inspired me to keep learning and growing by speaking with people all over the world. I feel one step closer to this because of my growing ability to speak a new language. In many ways, learning a new language makes the world feel both bigger and smaller – bigger because of the diverse cultures it introduces you to, and smaller because of the human connections it creates.
Watch here: Abby shares typical things you'll see in Buenos Aires
Q4: How do you hope this experience will shape your future studies or career path?
This experience has already started to shape my future career path and studies. It has helped bridge my dreams into more of a reality. Wanting to be a travel journalist means that content creation through social media is inevitable. It’s the biggest and easiest way to connect with the world. Starting this Fellowship has given me the chance to discuss traveling and culture. As for my future studies, I plan to pursue a Master’s degree in Spain and I want to take most, if not all, of my classes in Spanish. My time here is for me to become fluent in Spanish. By the time I leave Argentina, I plan on being prepared to take on moving to a Spanish-speaking country and getting my master’s degree without facing a language barrier.
Become a Latin America Student Fellow
Your turn to make an impact in Latin America starts here – apply for the CIEE Leading Change in Latin America Student Fellowship today!