CIEE Latin America Fellow Spotlight: Emily Tihonen
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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: Emily Tiihonen
School: Kalamazoo College
Major: Psychology and Spanish
LATAM Location: Santiago, Chile
Q1: What does receiving this Fellowship mean to you personally?
Receiving this Fellowship meant everything to me as a financially independent college student. I was on the fence about studying abroad before receiving this scholarship because I didn’t know if I would be able to afford the extra loans necessary to go on this experience. This opportunity means the world to me and gives me the chance to have a unique experience that so many people in my life didn’t get.
Q2: How do you hope your language skills develop/grow while living in Latin America?
I have been practicing and learning Spanish for a little over seven years now, but I feel like there is a piece of the puzzle missing. My hope is that with full immersion, I will be able to reach a high level of fluency and be able to communicate and understand the nuances of the language that can only be understood without translation.
See more: Emily shares a photo dump of her first week in Santiago
Q3: How do you think learning a new language can change the way you see the world?
One of the biggest skills you learn as a language learner is empathy and understanding for other language learners. Any embedded judgements about English Language Learners are immediately challenged as you experience what it is like to have the words in your head but not the ability to communicate those thoughts, the embarrassment of accidentally making a faux pas, or simply not having the energy to translate. This is a priceless experience that I think everyone should have to experience to be humbled and relate to other human beings.
Q4: How do you hope this experience will shape your future studies or career path?
I hope to use my language and cultural fluency in my future career as a social worker. I want to be able to make materials more accessible to the Spanish speaking community and I want to be able to connect with an entire community and help them the best that I can in their own language.
See more: Emily takes a weekend trip to San Pedro de Atacama
Q5: What parting advice do you have for other students who want to apply for this opportunity for spring 2026?
My advice for any interested students is to just apply! Don’t get in your head and think you aren’t good enough or don’t have the skills to share your experience on social media. This job needs multiple perspectives, not just the perfect ones we normally see on social media. Other potential study abroad students want to see relatable content.
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!