Major: Neuroscience
Hometown: Bogotá, Colombia
On joining the ballroom dance team:
"[The Centennial Room in the City Union is] where I first auditioned for the ballroom dance team. It was the second week of my first semester, needless to say I was very nervous. I was still making friends and I was looking to find a community on campus that was not necessarily tied to my major or my culture. So I went for my passion, dancing. In my culture, we grow up dancing salsa, merengue and other latin dances, but I never had the opportunity to learn ballroom dancing. I got to know about it through my international orientation leader, who encouraged me to write my name up at the booth during the Big Red Welcome street festival. I am now part of this amazing team where I made my first domestic friends and where we present our dances in a beautiful showcase which I absolutely look forward to every semester. I encourage everyone to get involved in something that becomes their happy place; it is important to have those spaces where we feel we are getting a fresh breath of air."
On getting involved in a multicultural organization or event:
"Some of the most fun memories I have had at the university have come from events organized by the Indian Student Association. My roommate and most of my friends at Nebraska are Indian, and I am so happy to be part of their community even though I am not from the same culture. I have learned so much about their traditions and ways of living, and I have come to develop a certain love for their culture. This organization has taught me to embrace diversity and be part of a world I would have never dreamed of knowing so deeply. Now, every time there are events and festivals being celebrated on campus, I find myself attending them and I absolutely love it! I encourage people to embrace diversity by getting involved in multicultural organizations and you’ll find yourself loving their traditions, especially the food."
