Amalia Marmolejos ’23 received a bachelor’s in global studies and political science from Carolina.
Amalia Marmolejos ’23 of Washington, D.C., has been awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Spain through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
Beginning this fall, the recent graduate will assist teaching staff at a school in the Canary Islands, a Spanish autonomous community off the coast of northwestern Africa.
As a Morehead-Cain Scholar, Amalia taught English at a school in Quito, Ecuador. Serving a diverse group of students opened her eyes to “the social problems that affect communities across nations,” she said.
Classrooms would often include children aspiring to attend college in the United States as well as refugees from Venezuela whose education had been disrupted.
“Although I didn’t set out to be a teacher, I’ve found that it’s not just about teaching; it’s about learning what people need and how to support them,” said Amalia, who holds degrees in global studies and political science.
“That’s a skill I want to hone and carry with me in all of my endeavors working with communities both locally and internationally.”
In addition to teaching, she plans to volunteer at local nonprofits that seek to use teaching English as a tool for upward mobility.
“In this role, I hope to truly become part of the community that I’m working in and to gain perspective on the type of international development work I could meaningfully contribute to in the future,” she said.
This summer, Amalia will live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to continue her studies in Portuguese before beginning the program in September.
Tess McGrinder ’23 and Olivia Romine ’23 also received Fulbright Scholarships for the 2023–2024 program. A total of twenty-one students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will study, conduct research or teach abroad for the academic year through the grant.
