Regan Joyce’s college experience was guided by a piece of advice from her mother.
Instead of forcing her to focus on a specific career path, she encouraged Joyce to simply enjoy the journey. “You’ll figure out what you like and what you’re good at along the way.”
That’s exactly what happened.
The Forest, Virginia, native was already interested in science and health care, and she discovered her other passion after enrolling in a general education Spanish course.
“My professor was a grad student who was not a native Spanish speaker. He was 22 and about 80% fluent in Spanish,” she explained. “I could not believe he was practically fluent when he was only a few years older than me. I thought this was amazing, and I wanted to be that person who dedicates the time to learning Spanish for the sake of others. I continued learning Spanish and, over time, explored careers where I could use it in an impactful way.”
To enhance her education, Joyce participated in a four-week, faculty-led study abroad program last summer. She and other UNK students traveled to Costa Rica, where they stayed with host families and took classes at the Costa Rican Language Academy. They also learned more about the local culture and explored the beautiful scenery.
Joyce enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to return for an additional two weeks during winter break, when she completed a more intensive language program.
“As soon as my plane landed, I instantly could see the progress I made from my trip in June,” she said. “When I was picked up from the airport and switched gears to only speaking Spanish, I felt instant confirmation that I had chosen the right course of study and all my hard work was coming together.”
Although there was less time for sightseeing during the second trip, Joyce was still able to create connections in the country. She practiced her Spanish during conversations with the waiters at a local restaurant – one of whom remembered her from the previous summer – and swapped stories with her Uber driver.
The chats with her host family were equally beneficial, and often accompanied by a delicious home-cooked meal.
“I believe students should consider studying abroad if they’re learning a language to get a feel for whether they truly enjoy it,” Joyce said. “You don’t just learn the language, but you also learn the culture that comes with the language. In my opinion, you cannot successfully learn a language without developing some sort of love for the culture and people that share that commonality.”
Joyce will graduate this spring with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences and minors in public health and Spanish. She plans to pursue a career in medical interpreting, a path she’s now fully committed to following.
“This trip eliminated any doubts about my ability to help Spanish speakers receive the adequate health care and services they deserve,” she said.
