About Valerie:
Hometown: Aurora, CO
Year in school: Senior
Major: International Studies and Spanish
Why I choose DU: I chose DU because beyond the fact the DU is obviously a school that puts a lot of emphasis in academia and extra-curricular involvement, it is a school that is in the heart of America, with the beautiful mountains to the West. I also chose DU because its size was perfect for the kind of college experience that I wanted to have.
Favorite memory of DU: Paddy Murphy week has always been my favorite time at DU. It’s Springtime, the sun is shining, the week is always full of activities that culminate into the Mansion Party, where everyone looks classy. It’s an incredible tradition at DU!
My internship experience while at DU: U.S. State Department, Washington D.C.:, June-August 2009
Why I chose to study abroad: I studied abroad in Valparaíso, Chile from July-December of 2008. I chose to study abroad in Chile because I wanted to solidify my Spanish-speaking abilities, live abroad with a host family where I could completely immerse myself in the culture, and I just generally wanted to go to South America. Although Europe is also an incredible choice, I knew that living abroad in South America would be a very distinctive opportunity that doesn’t present itself often. I had an incredible experience in Chile; I lived three blocks from the Ocean, two blocks from the best Sushi restaurant I’ve ever had, and the culture was just an amazing one. My favorite aspect of studying abroad, however, was being able to travel around South America including going to Argentina three times, Uruguay, all throughout Chile, and finishing the trip by traveling to Peru, where we hiked Machu Pichu. Studying abroad is invaluable for one’s personal growth, and it’s something that everyone should take advantage of, especially at DU, which makes the entire process go by very smoothly!
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