Spanish Concentration

Valeria Veliz-Vargas

What inspired you to choose your major and/or minor?
I always knew that I wanted to integrate Spanish in my university studies somehow. I took SPAN 315 during my second year at Mason and it opened my eyes to the different topics within language learning. Aside from speaking Spanish at home with family, I never thought to learn about Spanish linguistics, literature, and other social topics. From there, I decided to pursue the Spanish concentration major as a way to learn a little bit of everything about the Spanish language.
 
How did your academic experiences in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages impact you?
My academic experiences within MCL have impacted me greatly. From the different course topics and insights from the professors, I was able to not only learn new things but also discover new career fields that I could pursue. I even had the opportunity to study abroad in Granada, Spain. This experience allowed me to immerse myself in Spanish culture and gain a new perspective to language learning.
 
What accomplishment(s) during your time at Mason are you most proud of?
An accomplishment I am most proud of is my time as Editor-in-Chief of Hispanic Culture Review. It was a rewarding experience getting to lead the publication of two editions and seeing the creativity behind every submission that came in.
 
Are there any faculty or staff members who made a difference at Mason?
There are many! All my professors within the Spanish program have been amazing and I enjoyed every class I've taken.
 
What are your current career plans following graduation? What are your long-term career goals?
Following graduation I plan to pursue a career where I can fuse my interests of language and communications. I would like a role that allows me to connect with people and the community while making a meaningful impact.
 
What does learning a new language and culture mean to you?
As a Spanish heritage speaker, growing my Spanish language skills has always been important. So much of my life is in English, so getting to take Spanish courses means that I get to nourish a vital part of my identity and remind myself that being multilingual is a superpower.
 
What is your favorite thing to do in your free time and/or what campus activities do you enjoy engaging in at Mason?
During my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family. We have varying schedules so it is always nice when all of us are able to be together. I also dance in a Bolivian folkloric dance group, so getting to dance alongside my friends is always fun.