家外之家

Alexa Zamora `19 is looking forward to pursuing a graduate degree abroad in the coming months. 她对在Mount Mercy的时光有着美好的回忆, where she stayed involved inside and outside of the classroom.

MMU: What attracted you to Mount Mercy’s 英语 program?

AZ: Before attending Mount Mercy, I spontaneously decided to study to become an 英语 teacher. The program at Mount Mercy helped me grow as an individual and as a learner. 例如, I had the most supportive professors that helped me evolve as a reader, 作家, 批判性思考者. 我只是想大声说一声. Chris DeVault because he encouraged me every step of the way. He really helped me gain the confidence I needed, especially during the times I doubted myself.

MMU: Did you know from the beginning that you wanted to pursue a double major, or was that a choice you made once you started college?

AZ: It was a spontaneous decision to be a double major. I was initially a teaching major with an 英语 endorsement, but after my third year I decided not to pursue teaching. This was a confusing time for me because I trained myself into thinking I would be perfect in high school classrooms, 但它不适合我. My senior year I decided to continue with 英语 and pursue the diversity studies minor, 哪个是我做过的最好的决定. 我能和. 伊登·威尔士·弗里德曼和我喜欢每一刻. Professors like her bring authenticity and enthusiasm towards the course as well as their students, 是什么让我最享受我的学习.

MMU: What does a Mount Mercy education mean to you?

AZ: Mount Mercy的教育意味着社区. I left my hometown in California at the age of 17 to attend Mount Mercy and at the time everything felt so unfamiliar. 起初, I feared that I would find difficulty in adapting to the college life, but I gained so much from the supportive community Mount Mercy provides! Over the years I took part in cross country and track, on campus jobs such as dining and campus ministry, and then in my last two years I became an on-campus resident assistant. Because of these opportunities, I was able to adapt quickly and make lifelong friends. This made my transition from high school to college a lot easier.

MMU: You’re currently taking a gap year before you begin your master’s program abroad in Germany. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a graduate degree in Germany?

AZ: No, I did not always know I would end up studying in Germany. My freshman year at Mount Mercy I met an international soccer player from Germany named Felix. Our friendship turned into a long-term relationship and although, 这一切都不确定, I had an idea I would move to Germany after graduating. During the early stages of my gap year I made the decision to further my education and make my big move to Germany. It was mostly spontaneous because I moved to Germany before I even applied to graduate school. However, I took the chance and waited it out in hopes to receive good news! 三个月后, when I returned from volunteering in Tanzania with Felix, 我发现我被研究生院录取了! 一切都能顺利进行真是太疯狂了!

MMU:你在研究生院学习什么? What are your goals for after you complete your master’s program?

AZ: I am studying 英语 and American literary studies. People think it is an odd choice since I’m an American studying 英语 and American studies in Germany, but I am intrigued to see how another part of the world perceives and teaches American-focused studies. 在我完成之后, I plan to apply for jobs in Germany to see if I can work for nonprofits in either a writing field or teaching one-on-one. Although I did not enjoy teaching 英语 in a large high school setting, I found an appreciation for teaching students one-on-one through my internship at the Catherine McAuley Center. I was able to teach immigrants and refugees 英语 as a second language, which was wonderful. I would be thrilled to find a similar job in Germany!

MMU: Do you have any advice for current double majors at Mount Mercy? How did you balance your classes with everything else you had going on while in college?

"Make a list of your top priorities and really focus on giving those 100%, but don’t forget to enjoy yourself by doing things you love and appreciating life outside of the campus community!"

AZ: My advice is to manage your time well and stay focused on what is most important to you. It is easy to get distracted and lose track of your goals, so try to keep a positive mindset and stay determined! 同时，尽量不要在这个过程中迷失自我. 有时, I felt like I dedicated my time to too many things outside of my studies to make others happy. This created unwanted stress and unhappiness for me. So, make a list of your top priorities and really focus on giving those 100%, but don’t forget to enjoy yourself by doing things you love like hanging out with friends and appreciating life outside of the campus community! Four years go by too fast, so don’t worry too much and live your college experience to the fullest.