¡Hola (Hello)! My name is Kiera McLaughlin and I am from a small city called Keene in southern New Hampshire. When I was growing up in New Hampshire I loved sledding on the snowy hill outside my house with neighborhood friends and wandering around my cozy downtown. In college, I continue these traditions with new friends in South Hadley, Massachusetts at Mount Holyoke College. I am a junior this year and I am studying politics, Spanish and journalism. In my free time, I write and edit for the Mount Holyoke Newspaper, I am a thrower on the track and field team, and you can often catch me watching a movie with friends.
My love for Spanish has provided me with so many opportunities to make new friends. Thanks to the U.S. Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, I am able to spend a semester studying in Spain. Currently, I am living in Seville, Spain, which is located far in the south of the country. Here, I am continuing my studies in journalism and politics, while practicing my Spanish and meeting locals. I cannot wait to share my experience with you guys and I am so excited to get to know you all!
Want to know more about how you can study or intern abroad when you are a college student? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Learn more about the scholarship by clicking here!
