Hampton University Develops Global Leaders through Academic Excellence

1. Hampton UniversityDevelopsGlobal Leadersthrough AcademicExcellence
By Sydnie Baker
From a young age my parents instilled in me the power of global thinking. I attended a
prestigious preparatory school from 6th to 12th grade where I interacted with people from
different cultures. I was also afforded the opportunity to participate in various camps across the
country that exposed me to a diverse group of people and perspectives.
In high school I was accepted into the Concordia Language Village program that allowed
me to be immersed in the Spanish culture and language right here in the United States. Upon
entering Hampton University, I quickly declared Public Relations as my first major. The Scripps
Howard School of Journalism and
Communications is a superb program that
develops credible and well-rounded journalists. It
offers a plethora of opportunities including,
internships, student organizations, and practical
experience.
During my first semester, I reignited my passion for the Spanish culture and language. As
a Communications student I recognized the growing population of Spanish speakers in both the
national and international business world. The percentage of Spanish speaking immigrants is
exponentially growing throughout the United
States. The media sometimes fails to represent all
cultures or target that particular audience. There is
a need for those people to have fair representation
and that requires good communication. I hope to

2. use my education to serve those communities that cannot help themselves. After learning a
tremendous amount in my Spanish classes I embarked in the process of becoming a double
major. As a current senior, it is clear that this was one of the best decisions of my life because it
challenged me to go beyond what was expected of me.
One of the graduation requirements for Scripps Howard students is to complete an
internship in their majors. The Foreign Language department requires students to intern at a
Spanish speaking organization or study abroad.
During my junior year I thought it would be an
amazing opportunity to intern in a foreign country
to fulfill both graduation requirements. My double
major challenged me to set higher academic goals
and raise the standard of excellence on Hampton’s campus.
I applied to the Institute for the International Education of Students’ Intensive Internship
program and was accepted into the small program of 25 students from around the country. Upon
my arrival, I had an interview at the Barcelona Bar Association with executives from the
Training and International Departments. Once I obtained the position I started working at the
association daily after my classes. I learned invaluable information through interacting with
native Spanish people. My ability to read and write
in Spanish strengthened tremendously. I experienced
an immense personal transformation as well over the
summer. Working and studying in Spain validated
my future ambitions of becoming an international
Public Relations professional. The world became a

3. lot larger in my eyes, yet I realized how similar we are as humans, regardless, of our cultural,
economic, and ethnic differences. I developed a compassion for all people and became more
sensitive to the world’s need for better communication. Hampton University, the School of
Liberal Arts, and Scripps Howard are graduating international leaders who will impact the world
for generations to come.