Isabella Esponda

I am a junior at University of Massachusetts Amherst. I am from Central Connecticut.
On my 6th birthday I received a book called Women of the World. I remember being captivated by the amazing pictures of people and places that I had never seen. This book sparked a life time love of traveling and experiencing other cultures. My first trip out of the country was in 2nd grade. My family and I traveled to the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Seeing such amazing and different cultures only fuelled the fire. I would list all of the places I would want to go to my family and anyone who would listen.
As a 20 year old girl, I am well on my way to traveling the word. After that first trip I have traveled to England, France, Spain, Canada, and Last summer I went to Israel. All of these counties and cultures have changed me as a person. Traveling is such a humbling experience and I am so lucky to have been to all the places I have. Without these trips I would not be the person that I am today.
This spring Semester I am studying abroad in Palma De Mallorca, Spain. I am the 2nd person in UMass History to ever go on this program and I could not be more excited. The summer after I will be backpacking through Europe and furthering my view on the world.
The photo in the background was taken in Nazareth, Israel this past June.