Colombia Student Profiles
Profiles for our Colombian students are still coming in and we will update this page as they become available. Below we profile the students whose information we have on file.
Yuly Chica
Lynn University '12
Yuly was born and raised in a big and very hectic city in the northwest region of Colombia called Medellin. She never gave up on her dream to become an excellent professional: skills that she is currently attaining at a very diverse campus in the city of Boca Raton Florida. She obtained a full scholarship to pursue her degree in International Business and a minor in International Relations, "the perfect match", she says. Her financial situation was never a problem because she had the "willingness and desire to learn what most people from a second world nation prefer not to have". These skills that she always displayed while in high school were discovered by Juan Mazo, one of the EducationUSA advisors in Colombia that actively works in conjunction with USAP. He was always there for her and lit her way out until she got to the United States. Yuly kept herself busy while in high school always willing to learn in and out of the classrooms which allowed her to learn the English language very well.
The CEFA (Centro Formativo de Antioquia) High School which she attended gave her the chance to gain quality education and learn from wonderful qualified professors that opened a completely new world for her. Through the school she became acquainted with the Centro Colombo Americano where she learned the English language and applied to Lynn University. In her local community, Yuly was engaged and participated in a Church group called Voluntariado de Salud (Health Volunteering) assisting individuals with disabilities and terminally ill patients.
Her life changed radically after getting her visa approved, being on a plane for the first time, and coming to the US. "It all paid off". Yuly plans to "go higher" by running to be the presidentof the International Affairs Society in the Fall of 2009 and getting involved in Rotaract and Boca Helping Hands, organizations that make a difference in people's lives. Juan Camilo Tamayo, the Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Lynn UNiversity who guided her through the process of applying to the school says is proud of her accomplishments. Yuly plans to contribute to her country's development by presenting a project to the Alcaldia de Medellin that allows kids from the Barrio Manrique (a low class neighborhood in Medellin) to learn English.
Yuly is looking forward to years filled with joys and blessings. In the Spring of 2010 Yuly is planning to go to John Cabot University in Rome (Italy) where she will complete an unforgetable semester abroad and gain valuable international experience. How many more great things coming? She is not sure but she will keep working hard and take them as they come.
John Anderson Sanchez
Berea College '15
"Trust yourself, you know more than you think you do." — Benjamin Spock
This is a big truth that John Anderson corroborated in his application process to a US University, working hard and trusting himself to succeed in what he did. He was a high school student when an EducationUSA Advisor told him about study opportunities in the United States and he immediately started the process.
He was always a talented student who did his best to achieve his dreams. From a very young age, he started serving in a small church in his city, Armenia, as a childrens' teacher, drums player and a youth leader as well. When he developed a better English level, he started to teach the language to young children and kids with disabilities in some vulnerable sectors of Armenia and Circasia, Colombia.
When he was selected as a Youth Ambassador he joined the YMCA in Colombia and continued his community service there as an English teacher where he could improve his leadership. He traveled to the US in November-December of 2010 to Seattle, New York and Washington DC representing his country and learning about a new culture. As he knew that he could accomplish bigger things, he applied to Berea College in Kentucky and was admitted with a full scholarship during his four years. The US Department of State contributed with the Opportunity Scholarship to cover pre-departure fees and a round trip airfare.
Now he is going to travel to achieve one of his biggest dreams, knowing that challenges make us stronger and purposeful in life.