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Choices definitely affect our direction in life, for the good and the difficult. I decided that I wanted to experience another world. My first experience abroad was in Preston, England as part of a study abroad program. I had discontinued taking a language for the first two years of college, but after traveling through Europe I decided that it was important for me to speak another language. During and after college, I studied in Spain twice, worked as a bilingual social researcher in New Britain, CT, interacted with many Spanish speakers as a AmeriCorps volunteer, and managed a hotel in Nicaragua. Currently I am a bilingual manager and training specialist at Panera Bread Company in Denville, New Jersey. This area of New Jersey is home to many Colombian, Mexican, and Peruvian immigrants and their children. I use Spanish every day whether at work, shopping in town, or having a tea at the local Colombian coffee shop. Even today, although I speak Spanish every day, I have made a point to read Spanish for at least 5-10 minutes and review grammar points. It is difficult to remain fluent when I'm not immersed in the culture like I was when I lived in Spain or Nicaragua, but since languages are important to me, I want to remain as proficient as I possibly can.

Learning another language has opened me up to so many new people, experiences, places, foods, music, and ways of life. So many companies are looking for individuals who can speak more than one language, and I encourage anyone questioning whether they should or should not take a language to really think about the importance it will have on their future.

Melissa Lombardo, Class of 1997
Spanish
Central Connecticut State University - BA, Spanish and Sociology; School for International Training - MA, Intercultural Management