Trina Olsen

2019 Newman Family Scholarship Recipient

My name is Trina Olsen and I am a junior majoring in International Studies with a certificate in Global Health. After graduating from Madison West High School in 2015, I knew I was ready for an academic break and found myself craving a learning experience that was more hands-on and in ‘the real world’. I had never travelled outside of the U.S. when I decided to take a ‘bridge year’ with Global Citizen Year, in which I lived with an Ecuadorian host family for 7 months. My time in Ecuador was, and continues to be, an incredibly profound learning experience which shapes my current internationally-focused academic and personal interests.

Since travelling to Ecuador, I have also participated in a semester-long study abroad program in Querétaro, Mexico, where I was able to take most of my classes in Spanish and I (mostly) enjoyed the challenge of reading scholarly articles about Latin American regionalization in Spanish.

The International Studies coursework I have taken through UW–Madison has provided me with the broader, academic context and analysis needed to further reflect on some of my experiences and observations from abroad. Many of my classes have highlighted the importance of understanding how political and economic events influence cultural patterns and belief systems. Thanks to the IS Major, I have been able to pursue some fantastic professional development opportunities. I have plans to participate in UW–Madison’s Wisconsin in Washington D.C. program in Fall 2019, with the hope of learning more about one of my long-standing passions: women’s reproductive health policy. I have also really appreciated the opportunity this semester to volunteer as a Resource Navigator as part of a class for my Global Health certificate, which has taught me a lot about some of the unique community health issues that Madison faces.

In terms of post-graduation plans, I am considering applying for a Fulbright award, since I hope to continue expanding my knowledge of world affairs and deepen my appreciation for cultural understanding via living and working abroad. The idea of moving back to a country in South America and working there to become more fluent in Spanish is also very appealing. One of my long terms goals is to eventually become a certified Spanish medical interpreter. I am sometimes overwhelmed by the sheer amount of incredible opportunities to pursue post-graduation, which is definitely not a bad thing!