Maria O’Connell
Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Latin America, Social Realities in Mexico
Introduction
Hey! My name is Maria, and I am from Beachlands, Auckland. I am currently a student studying at the University of Auckland. I am doing a Bachelor’s in Global Studies, majoring in Human Rights, Politics and Spanish. I also do a conjoint with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Psychology and Criminology.
I applied for this amazing opportunity as it gives me a chance to see the world in a completely different sphere in terms of economy, society and culture. This programme not only aligns with my chosen degree (Human Rights, Spanish) but career aspirations, in which I want to save victims who have been human trafficked. With Latin America holding high human trafficking rates, it is important for me to understand their lifestyle in order to provide empathy for future clients.
I am looking forward to learning about their indigenous cultural practices and seeing how they perceive the world through a Latin American lens.
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Magic Of Mexico
One of my favorite parts of exchange is being able to explore a new country with people from across the globe. The energy of exchange students is irreplaceable. People are just as motivated to educate themselves about your exchange country as you are, while being just as spontaneous to try new things and have crazy…Continue…
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El Primer Mes: Viva en México
Being on exchange is a continuous ‘pinch me’ moment; life simply feels like a dream. You are on a journey of understanding a new culture, language, and way of living. A simple task such as shopping can lead to a crazy story you will never forget. It makes you realize what you miss from home…Continue…