Amelia Wyatt, Duke University
Hometown: Davidson, North Carolina, USA
Meet Amelia Wyatt from Duke University! This summer, Amelia will be joining our Summer Study Spanish & Intern in Spain program! We look forward to welcoming her in A Coruña!
Tell us more about you. “I’m a second generation Colombian American. I hate olives, wear bell-bottoms 6 out of 7 days of the week, and am a big proponent of putting lime on everything I eat. I love writing satire and dancing bachata.”
What motivated you to apply for this program? “I like both the Spanish language component and the work experience. I think both are valuable in their own right, and also help me in achieving my professional desire of becoming a lawyer who uses Spanish in their profession. It also is a once in a lifetime opportunity!”
What motivated you to choose Spain? “La Coruña seemed like such a beautiful spot where I can learn from locals. I really value the complete immersion aspect of going to Spain, and the wonderful weather too.”
What organizations are you involved in on campus? “I write for a satirical news publication, the Fluke, at Duke. Additionally, I’m the upcoming programming coordinator for Porcolombia, a student organization that celebrates Colombian culture on campus. I regularly attend other Latinx club events, like Mi Gente and LASO.”
What are your future career goals? “Because my proclivities are in reading and writing, I want to become a lawyer. As a writer, I think law is interesting because it’s a form of storytelling to the jury. I also want to incorporate my Spanish speaking skills into this profession, whether it be immigration law or multinational business law.”
What are some of the places/things on your bucket list?
“I definitely want to visit the Aztec and Mayan ruins in Mexico, and the Taj Mahal of India. I plan on being a religious studies minor, so I am vastly interested in anything with religious significance. As far as bucket list goes, I definitely have some weird ones – I want to meet Danny DeVito, complete a food-eating challenge, be featured in a “what music are you listening to?” Tiktok, and (maybe) skydive.”
What is your proudest accomplishment? “I think my proudest accomplishment is writing and illustrating a children’s book. During high school, I volunteered at a bilingual preschool called La Escuelita. Learning the immigrant story from the families that were part of the program, I decided I wanted to write a children’s book that encompasses that journey so the children knew they were not alone. Two and a half years later and Ozzie and the Island was the story I created!”
What is your favorite quote? “ The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new “ – Socrates
