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Koret Fellowships 2016-2017

Eoin Lyons
Finance and Political Science major, class of 2019

While traveling with the Global Medical Brigades in Nicaragua, one of the largest challenges I faced was the language barrier. I am studying Spanish for my first time this year, having previously taken Latin in high school. At times, I felt left behind, but those around me were incredibly helpful in bringing me up to speed and allowing me to practice as much as possible. This challenge was one of the most gratifying factors as well; although there were times when I had major difficulties in understanding what was being said, I also grew in my confidence and proficiency of the language while applying it in the local community. The trip showed me the importance of learning a foreign language and the doors that it could unlock, and I cannot wait for further opportunities to apply this learning.