Hello everyone, I’m Lenny Alexandra García Martínez from El Salvador. I was a Global UGRAD in the spring 2024 semester at Bluefield State University in Bluefield, West Virginia. After the incredible experience of Global UGRAD, my return to El Salvador has been a journey full of new challenges and opportunities. It has only been six months since I returned, but in that short time I have experienced personal and professional growth that has surprised me.
One of the most important moments after returning was adapting to my environment again. Leaving my country for the exchange was a challenge in itself: I had to move away from my family, my friends, a job I loved, my community, and my volunteer activities. Returning involved rebuilding all of that, and while it was difficult at first, I have learned to embrace the change. Although I returned home, I feel like I left a part of myself not only in Bluefield, where I studied, but in each of the wonderful people who accompanied me during the process.
Since I returned, I have continued to advance in my career and am in my fourth year of studying marketing and international business. Additionally, thanks to the networking opportunities I have had as an exchange alumna with the United States Embassy in El Salvador, I work as a Content Reporting Specialist for Un Pulmón Más, an organization that promotes the orange (creative) economy in my region in cooperation with the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). This role allows me to collaborate on creative development projects in El Salvador and participate in local and regional events.
One of the most enriching experiences since my return has been volunteering. I am still active in my church and in the Oportunidades program as a volunteer in educational and workforce readiness activities. I also recently began participating in the GIZ CaPaz II project, a German initiative that supports young people in the search for decent jobs in El Salvador. I traveled abroad with the GIZ CaPaz II team this summer, and that experience opened my eyes to new possibilities.
Another project that excites me is the Nawat course that I am taking thanks to a scholarship I earned through Timumachtikan Nawat. Nawat is a language native to El Salvador and is nearly extinct, with fewer than 200 native speakers. Preserving it is fundamental to our cultural identity. My experience in the Global UGRAD Program has made me appreciate the importance of each region’s languages, and I am excited to take part in this initiative to preserve an important part of Salvadoran culture.
On a personal level, I have been fortunate to connect with incredible people, including the United States Ambassador to El Salvador, William H. Duncan, at a reception where I met other exchange alumni. At this event, I also met Mike Hernandez, who is a friend of my advisor at Bluefield State! He is about to launch a project with alumni in El Salvador and I am interested in collaborating with him on this initiative however I can. I was also selected as the 2023-2024 Alumni Class Secretary in El Salvador, which will allow me to remain connected to this significant community.
Looking ahead, my goals include continuing my development in El Salvador and eventually returning to the United States to pursue a master’s degree. My experience with Global UGRAD has changed my life and continues to guide every step I take, both personally and professionally.