Dana Meredith, Journalism

As a double major in Spanish and journalism, I was asked by countless people throughout my college career if I wanted to work for a Spanish newspaper. It wasn't an odd question, but it was, in retrospect, a bit narrow-minded. As I'm continuing to discover, a degree in Spanish can be applied to many careers in many ways beyond the obvious.

In my new position as a copy editor at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock, I likely won't be using Spanish daily. I probably won't even be using it weekly. But I don't consider it a waste to have spent four years pursuing a degree in Spanish.

As an editor, you need to understand the cultural landscape of the world you live. Otherwise, it would be exceedingly difficult to spot misrepresentation, factual errors and other gaffes in the articles you read. The cultural landscape in our country continues to diversify, and globalism is bringing the world closer together than ever before. By obtaining my Spanish degree, I'm not only knowledgeable about some of the viewpoints and experiences increasingly making contact with this country, I'm also equipped with the skills I need to learn more about those perspectives, whether that be from academic research or personal interaction.

Of course, I'm also still in love with Spanish and Latino culture itself, and I intend to incorporate it into my personal life, from the books I read to the music I listen to and the movies I watch. I also haven't ruled out going to graduate school to study women's rights and gender in Mexico, a topic I kept coming back to as an undergraduate.

While my career path is still a bit uncertain, I am certain that my decision to study Spanish in college will only help me.