I am proud to share that my background is a mixture of learning gained from personal and professional relationships in environments committed to diversity and inclusion. The opportunities to study, work or volunteer in different communities have allowed me to understand cultural practices and appreciate human differences. By describing some of my experiences, I can prove that my attitude and thinking are aligned with the University’s philosophy of diversity and excellence.
First, it is important to mention that I studied inat a public university with people from different ethnic backgrounds, including indigenous and Afro-Colombian, which extended my perception of society. During this time, I took courses in sociology and geography as an addition to my professional degree, as well as participated in an international agriculture training program where I lived and worked with other interns from different countries and religions. From this experience, I made valuable friendships and established linkages with professionals who still support me to achieve my goals.
Looking for job opportunities, I became a high school teacher through a government education plan. Furthermore, I led and presented a community enterprise proposal for a call launched by the Ibero-American Development Bank aimed at reducing poverty and famine. These experiences in teaching and working with the community improved my communication and teamwork skills. After a few months, I got a job as atat the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation where I had to work with farmers and understand their problems to find solutions to preserve the coffee beansbeans' quality. As a Research Assistant, I had the great experience to present the results of this study at the annual meeting of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers in New Orleans.