My Journey at Morehead State University

Alma Temeka Dye

Throughout my life I have carried a love for language, which heavily influenced my
decision to study both English and Spanish at Morehead State University. My abilities as a writer
have drastically improved in my dedication to the coursework, and my communication skills in
Spanish have transformed through my commitment to become fluent in the language. The
assignments and responsibilities that come with double majoring have enabled me to grow into a
more versatile, professional individual.
Through the constant composing of essays as an English major, I have evolved into a
more conscientious thinker. Rather than chose words to make my writing sound elegant, I find it
more beneficial to select those that effectively relay what I want to say. My main focus when
writing is to express my thoughts and arguments in a precise manner, which I have learned is
sometimes best accomplished with simple words. This exactness is also present in my research
abilities. Instead of shifting my viewpoint to accommodate a source, I have grown accustomed to
using only sources that strengthen my argument. Further, I only incorporate sources that come
from reputable places and are relevant to what I am writing. The practice of writing essays over
the past four years has pushed me to become diligent in both the crafting of my argument and my
research.
I have also grown more confident in public speaking. Because my Spanish discipline
requires a large amount of conversation, I am required to present many presentations using the
language. Speaking in front of an audience was a difficult transition for me to make. Throughout
my early Spanish presentations, I would stutter every other sentence and stand as if petrified
while interacting with others. However, facing this fear has allowed me to better verbalize my
content, as well as embrace audience interaction. Due to this, I am self-assured to present not
only in Spanish, but in English as well.
I have also taken a personal interest in leadership roles in my time at Morehead State
University. As a library assistant, I have trained employees as well as assisted my boss in
teaching an education class. I have also become involved in Epsilon Mu, an organization
dedicated to connecting people who enjoy language while giving back to others in the
community. This has greatly improved my interpersonal communication skills and has taught me
to complete assignments in a more organized, timely manner. I also enjoy suggesting new ideas
to my peers, as well as collaborating with them to devise events for our community. I value the
professional connections I have formed, and the knowledge I have gained by being part of
something outside of my academic studies.
As an individual that comes from a small town, I have become a better-versed global
citizen in my study of Latin American culture. Because I come from a closed-minded family, I
lacked an understanding of cultures outside of my own when I first came to Morehead State.
However, I wished to expand my mindset and began participating in Spanish Club activities to
celebrate various types of Latin American holidays. This also sparked my interest in the different
types of foods and I learned how to cook a few Hispanic dishes. By immersing myself in this
study, I have matured to appreciate the diversity of a lifestyle different from my own, and have
become a broad-minded individual who values differing worldviews.
As a dedicated student, I not only persevere through a bad situation, but harness it as
motivation to turn a failure into a success. The very first essay I handed in as an undergrad
received a D, and I was highly distressed and disappointed at these results. However, rather than
retreat in the presence of this challenge, I took the initiative to talk to my professor about how I
could improve future essays. I spent more time producing a thoughtful argument, which paid off
as the next essay I turned in received an A. Instead of continuing to feel disappointed in myself, I
shifted my focus outward in order to produce a positive result from a negative situation. With
this mindset, I am constantly motivated to produce work that attempts to not only meet its goal,
but to exceed it.
I have pushed my boundaries to improve both personally and professionally throughout
my experience at Morehead State University. I plan to explore the diverse opportunities available
to me as an English and Spanish graduate. I would like to intern at a publishing house to gain
experience in editing and publishing. I also plan to continue my journey to become fluent in
Spanish and explore work in translating and interpreting. Giving back is also valuable to me, and
I am interested in participating in the Peace Corps to help make a change. Taking the skills that I
have gained throughout my time as an undergrad, I look forward to the opportunities that await
me in my future career.