Daisy Montoya ‘24 (Psychology, Education Studies) is a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Mexico. Learn about how Daisy is working with students from a different cultural background and connecting further with her Mexican heritage. Plus, get a few tips from an accomplished student and alumna about finding joy at Wesleyan.
Can you tell us about the work you are doing as a Fulbright Fellow? What sparked your interest in the program and what do you hope to gain from the experience?
I am an English Teaching Assistant in Jilotepec, State of Mexico, Mexico. I teach at an Escuela Normal, which is a teacher’s training college. As an assistant teacher, I am responsible for teaching three English classes once a month, teaching an advanced English club weekly, leading four English activities per month, and organizing a monthly English bulletin board. I create all of my lesson plans, and I receive feedback from the main teacher I work with. Although this is my first time teaching English, I have found it exciting to be able to teach students the various aspects of the language, such as traditions and customs of the U.S.
During my time here, I was looking forward to working with students from a different cultural background and connecting further with my Mexican heritage. I am happy to say that both of these goals have become true living in Mexico. Teaching in a Mexican school has exposed me to the daily lives of my students as well as the joys and struggles that have shaped their lives as students living in Mexico. Traveling to different states and cities have given me the privilege of seeing the diverse cultures and landscapes throughout the entire country. Furthermore, I have learned Mexican history, from pre-Hispanic times up to modern day Mexico, and this has filled me with immense joy. Being able to understand the history has helped me connect the past with current practices and celebrations.
Being in a different country gives you an opportunity to see things afresh. What has been the most eye-opening aspect of your experience?
The most eye-opening aspect of my experience has been that it is important to celebrate one's culture and share it with others. When I arrived in Jilotepec, everyone was welcoming and wanted me to participate in their community. I was able to do this by attending a traditional embroidery class. Although I was nervous because I did not even know how to hold a needle, the teacher was excited to teach me a new tradition that is essential in Mexican culture. This class was offered for free to citizens to enhance knowledge of the culture. I am grateful for this course because it taught me a tradition that is oftentimes only passed down through family; traditions like these are what keeps a culture alive.
As a double major in psychology and education studies (class of 2024), was there a specific course that has made an impact on your education and life?
The psychology seminar “Migration & Child Development” taught by professor Andrea Negrete has made an impact on my Wesleyan education and personal life. This course taught me of the untold stories that stem from migration on the U.S. and Mexico border: the psychological impact and trauma that immigrants and their families face. Unfortunately, society often forgets that immigrants and refugees are human beings. However, this course was able to give them a voice and shine light on their struggles beyond what meets the eye. I have a personal connection to this class because my entire family living in the U.S. are Mexican immigrants who once crossed the U.S. and Mexico border. Professor Negrete’s seminar was the first time in my entire educational career where my background was being taught in a classroom setting. Being educated about my connection to migration has allowed me to learn about multiple aspects that impact immigration, from government policies to the treatment of immigrants.
Which was your favorite library at Wesleyan? What did you like most about it?
I loved studying in Olin! I am the type of person who needs to be in complete silence in order to concentrate on my work; naturally, I would spend most of my time in Olin. Besides the studying environment, I also loved the architecture of the library. Olin is beautiful, and I romanticized doing my work whenever I would go; somehow, this made me feel more motivated to do work. Another thing I enjoyed about Olin is having various studying settings. For example, if I wanted to feel surrounded by people, I would go to the first floor in the main space. For a more private space, I would often go to the stacks and study at the individual desks.
What book, film, or other creative work has made a strong and lasting impression on you?
Nadie nos va a extrañar is a series that is about a group of high school students in Mexico City who are the “nerds” of the school and get paid to do other students’ homework. The series dives into topics such as social classes, the LGBTQ community, and depression. Although these topics exist in Mexico, they are oftentimes considered taboo to talk about within the culture. When I watched Nadie nos va a extrañar, I was amazed at the representation that was given to these issues, especially because the series is set in the 1990s. In addition to these topics, the high school friend group goes through different life experiences that causes them to grow and cause change to their future. Right now, I am at a point in my life where I am also experiencing change and have no idea what my future will look like. Nadie nos va a extrañar helped me realize that change can very easily be good, and everything will be okay.
What advice can you give for prospective or current Wesleyan students to find joy during their time here?
A piece of advice I would give is to discover your own community. As a first-generation, low-income student of color at Wesleyan, I struggled with imposter syndrome because the majority of students did not have similar backgrounds as me. Going to different events catered towards my Latine, first-generation, and low-income identities helped me find those people who I could relate to. Finding my own community helped my imposter syndrome decrease, and I felt my most confident and comfortable with these identities.
Another piece of advice is to challenge yourself to try new things; college is the perfect time to explore interests and hobbies. During my time at Wesleyan, I took a total of 5 dance classes. I had never taken a dance class before! I love to dance because it allows me to move my body and express my emotions through these movements. Not only did I take multiple dance classes, I also ended up joining the Latin & Ballroom dance team. Taking the first step of accepting a challenge showed me a new passion: dance.
Have you developed any research or professional interests this year that you want to further explore?
During my time in Mexico, I have become interested in the intersectionality that exists within education and critical topics, such as race, gender, and social class. I want to continue working with students in the future, so I plan on becoming involved with either a nonprofit or educational program that benefits marginalized students. Just like I come from underrepresented backgrounds, I want to be able to become a leader and advocate for students in these situations.
The Fulbright US Student Program is the United States’ premier international cultural exchange program for US citizens and nationals. Through Fulbright, Wesleyan graduates can teach, research, or study in one of 140+ countries for an academic year. Wesleyan has been a Top Producing Institution with the Fulbright program for 6 years running.
