Get Molly to Málaga

Molly Gilstrap Start Date: Mar 9, 2019 - End Date: Jul 6, 2019
  • Málaga, Spain
  • Sevilla, Spain
  • Córdoba, Spain
  • Granada, Spain

My Travel Story

by: Molly Gilstrap Start Date: Mar 9, 2019 - End Date: Jul 6, 2019
I’ll never forget when Señora Rudden asked us to count as high as we could in Spanish on the first day of class in ninth grade. My turn came when we reached the number seven, but suddenly my mind went blank and my voice silent as I stared at the wall. “Come on,” she encouraged, “use your Dora skills!” How could I not remember something so simple? The student next to me responded “siete” as my face turned bright red with embarrassment.

While I still don’t have all the answers, “siete” now represents the number of years I have studied Spanish. During the journey, I’ve developed a deep love and appreciation for the language that only continues to grow stronger. But the destination still lies ahead – to become fully comfortable and confident in speaking the language and achieve fluency in everyday conversation at home and abroad.

Keeping those goals in sight, I push to improve my skills and further my knowledge with every assignment in my classes. I work closely with instructors and eagerly seek feedback on how I can improve and in which areas I need work. As a Supplemental Instruction leader for Spanish, I share my passion with other students through teaching and helping them build confidence. With SI, my Spanish literature class, and job as a tutor, I dedicate more than 25 hours each week to Spanish. Learning the language has almost become a full-time job!

My proficiency in writing, reading and listening has improved immensely, but the one area in which my confidence is still lacking is the reason most people want to learn a language in the first place – for the ability to speak it, and speak it well. My professor always says, “There’s only so much you can learn in the classroom,” and I believe that to be true. Fully immersing myself in the language on this trip will force me out of my comfort zone and bring new confidence in my ability to speak Spanish in conversation. I have never traveled outside of the country, much less very far from my home in the Midwest, so this experience would open up a whole new world – and bring the first stamp on my passport!

I started working toward a Spanish minor my first year of college, and just last semester, with encouragement and support from my professor, I decided to declare a double major in Spanish and Computer Science. 

To earn both of my degrees and graduate on time in spring 2020, well, I really need this trip! I am working three jobs and applying to every scholarship I can find because without financial assistance, this trip will not be possible for me. If you choose to donate to help make my studying abroad dreams come true, I would be so grateful.

Today, I can say without hesitation that I know how to count to seven (and much higher) in Spanish. And rarely am I at a loss for words when asked to answer any question in the language. But to be able to engage in conversation fluently in Spanish, without hesitation, and with self-confidence, what joy that would bring! And what a challenge it presents! I can’t think of a better way to study, learn and speak a second language fluently than by taking this trip and engaging with native speakers in a new environment.
  • Málaga, Spain
  • Sevilla, Spain
  • Córdoba, Spain
  • Granada, Spain

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