CIEE Latin America Fellow Spotlight: Joscelyn Caldwell
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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: Joscelyn Caldwell
School: Tulane University of Louisiana
LATAM Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Q1: What inspired you to apply for the Leading for Change: Latin America Student Award?
I applied to the LATAM Fellowship when my study abroad advisor reached out and said that it seemed like a perfect fit for me. After looking into it, it was. My issue with getting to study abroad had always been finances, but this was an opportunity to showcase my particular interest in Argentina in a creative way and realize a lifelong dream.
Swipe here: Joscelyn shares her favorite study spots in Buenos Aires
Q2: What do you hope to learn (academically, culturally, and/or personally) during your semester abroad?
I'm most excited to learn about modern social movements and the history of revolutions in Latin America! Each country has its own unique story, but all of them are fascinating to me because there are stark differences in how each region declared their independence and reacted to political movements. I think Latin America has been treated like a monolith in discussions of U.S. relations and history, but that's not the case at all. Learning about all of that paths that different people have taken to create change in their communities better informs how I can live my life to create change.
Q3: Are there any social, political, or historical topics you’re especially interested in learning more about while abroad?
I'm really interested in Peronism in Argentina, which was a political movement in the mid-20th century that emphasized nationalism, social justice causes, and rebellion against economic imperialism. Many Argentinians still identify as Peronists today, and it's had a major influence on attitudes surrounding social change and worker's rights.
Watch here: Joscelyn gives us a tour of the CIEE Buenos Aires center
Q4: How do you hope your language skills develop/grow while living in Latin America?
I'm excited to speed up my language skills. I've studied enough to be able to write, speak, and understand what I hear – if you give me enough time. I plan to track how long my readings and essays take me throughout the semester to see if I'm getting any faster. I also can't wait to go to language exchange nights throughout the city to improve my speaking fluency and take advantage of talking with my host family and the people that I meet around the city!
Q5: How do you think learning a new language can change the way you see the world?
Language is the medium through which we access reality. Our world is filled with associations made through the things that we hear and read. Different cultures and languages have other metaphors and manners of speaking. They also have words to describe experiences or objects that don't exist in our own languages. When you learn a new language, you're learning a new way of perceiving the patterns of daily life.
Q6: How do you plan to use what you learn abroad to make a difference in your community back home?
I'm excited to take my Spanish language skills back home, which are increasingly important all across the United States. I'm going to be a better changemaker, with more empathy, and more empowered to take action. Hopefully, I'll have learned to ask the right questions about what issues exist in my communities, and formulate the right solutions in turn.
Study Abroad in Latin America
Now it's your turn to experience all that Latin America study abroad has to offer!