Part I: Introduction Personal History and Goals Target-less Ambition From a very young age, I was always the

girl with high hopes and even bigger aspirations; so much so that my kindergarten teacher told my mother that she could see me becoming the first woman President of the United States. Although I was raised in the small village of East Freetown, Massachusetts (which boasts a higher population of cows than people), I was forever curious, insurmountably enthusiastic and wanted much out of life. In high school, I realized my love for writing and traveling and taking different classes every semester, and if there was a job title for Traveling Student I would have assimilated to it quite nicely. However, there was never a specific career or job that held much interest for me, and I spent the years leading up to my freshman year of college trying to figure out which major I would declare. Due to a Journalism scholarship I was granted (which included a 50% tuition waiver) and the beautiful location, I chose to go to college at Hawaii Pacific University to work on my Bachelors of Arts for Journalism. Although I enjoyed working as a staff member for the universitys newspaper, it quickly became apparent to me that journalism was not my calling. I would spend my free time looking up flights to Japan or tracking my ancestors journey from England and the Azores. Confused and worried that I had wasted two years of college on a career path I would not follow after graduation, I decided to participate in two study abroad experiences to clear my head and out myself into an unfamiliar environment. The first was to Nagoya, Japan. It was my very first opportunity to leave the U.S., and I feared that the fantasy of the world I had dreamed about as a child was going to be irreparably

broken when I got my first real taste of it. I was pleasantly mistaken. Had I convinced myself that the idea of traveling was better than risking the reality of it disappointing me, I would never have discovered that sometimes you have to leave your comfort zone in order to excel personally, professionally, and academically. I thrived in the unfamiliar environment and it made me realize that I was not a follower; I made my own opportunities instead of waiting for them to find me, whether that was joining an all-Japanese tennis club or volunteering to sing Disney songs on stage in front of a hundred Japanese parents. A career that involved working internationally was suddenly all I could think about. When I left Japan, I could only think about returning. I missed everything the language, the food, the people, the short trips to Korea for a vacation, but most of all the change I tangibly saw in myself every day. Until that experience, I had limited the perimeter of my future. Once I realized that I could not only adapt to a foreign culture but actually flourish in it, I saw the endless possibilities before me. Shortly after returning to Hawaii, I went abroad again to Essex, England- and had an extremely different, but just as potent,
A quick trip to Korea during my travels

experience. Where Japan had been about finding my place in the world, my time in England gave me leave to find

myself during the isolated months of harsh winter and snow. I felt less reliant on others in England and more decisive about what I wanted, which only reaffirmed my conclusion that an international career would be rewarding for someone with my disposition. When I finally returned to Hawaii, the lessons I had learned about myself and other cultures gave me a new

outlook on life and I decided that I wanted to help other students study abroad to gain that invaluable experience as well. MA TESOL program & Self-discovery As many soon-to-be college graduates do, I began doing some research on possible graduate programs. Though my focus had narrowed to becoming a Study Abroad Advisor, there were no set expectations as to what educational or work-related qualifications I was required to have. The important thing, it seemed, was to have those two small initials, M.A., after my name and extensive experience working or teaching abroad. So with a variety of paths to take after graduation, I had debated with myself, for half a year, whether to seek a graduate degree or simply go straight abroad. Once I settled on the idea of obtaining a masters degree right out of college, I had to determine which major in the field of International Education would prove a positive investment in my future. Though my lack of teaching experience made me unsure about pursuing a teaching degree, I settled on HPUs Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA TESOL) program for several reasons. The first is as an aspiring higher education administrator, I wanted classroom level experience. Because my concentration centered on Study Abroad offices, which send American students into language classrooms around the world, I thought it would be beneficial to understand that imperative aspect of the exchange process through a teachers perspective. And so with a vague inclination of what language teaching involved and holding onto that belief, I entered the program.

Language teaching was not something that came easily to me. I spoke too fast, my patience was not even strong enough to deal with lazy group members, and I have always had an overwhelming expectation that as a native speaker I was supposed to naturally know how to explain English to others. Through the MA TESOL program, I was able to gain confidence in public speaking from group projects and presentations, professional presentations at AL Talks and the HI TESOL conference, micro teachings and constructive feedback from peers and teachers who have more experience than I. I also saw my own understanding of theories and leadership improve due to the afore mentioned reasons, and it was
My classmates and I always helped each other soar.

always a great pleasure when a classmate asked for my help on something they were struggling with because it meant I had obtained enough information to explain it to others. I came to the realization that one of the best parts of life is not focusing on me and my own goals, but nurturing success in others. I was able to gain not only the teachers perspective, but also the students. Future administrative plans and study abroad Using the lessons Ive learned throughout the MA TESOL program, Im determined to become a catalyst for other peoples higher education success and cultural development. While my future is by no means clear to me now, in my final semester of graduate school, I no longer

feel limited. Students from across the world are anxious to learn English and study abroad in the U.S., and I plan on assisting those curious minds by enabling their studies through the teaching of English and eventually working as an administrator. Although I do plan on pursuing a PhD in International Education (with a concentration on Education Abroad), I would like to take a break from my own academic studies to concentrate on building work experience and establishing myself financially. To do so, I will be searching for administrative opportunities in study abroad, teaching abroad openings, and possibly working for a non-governmental organization. Due to my baccalaureate concentrations on Asia and Europe, I have been concentrating my efforts on Korea, Japan, Spain, and England, although Ive always dreamed of living in Argentina as well. This program as given me confidence that I can not only make it to any of these places, but that I will also succeed.