“A transformative experience”: Catalina’s path from ESPOL to diplomacy

Why did you choose ESPOL in the first place?

I picked ESPOL because I was very attracted to the research programme and the research resources that the University has, and also because of its location here in Europe. Being close to Beligum gave us opportunities to be close to European institutions, as well as the NATO headquarters.

What did you enjoy about your Master’s degree?

I really liked the structure of the programme, where we had the chance to do our own dissertation and internship. What I enjoyed the most from my programme here was interacting with a very big diverse group of students from all across the world. In my programme we had people from Congo, Cambodia, Tunisia, Hungary, and, coming from Puerto Rico, it was a really transformative experience for me to interact with so many different perspectives. I also really enjoyed having the mentorship and the expertise from our excellent scholars and researchers that we have at ESPOL as our professors. It really opened up many opportunities for me and it allowed me to become a more developed academic and now professional.

You’ve just finished your Master’s degree. What’s next?

I am now starting a job back in the United States, in New York City, with an American diplomat, in the field of US diplomacy and international relations. I am very excited and ESPOL definitely prepared me to have the knowledge, the confidence and the different capabilities to be able to make a big change and work with purpose.

Any highlight you’d like to share?

During my time at ESPOL, I made life-long friends that really helped me look at the world with different perspective. I’ve had the chance to travel Europe, I travelled across ten different countries and it was my first time being able to become entranched into diverse, different cultures and traditions. It was definitely a highlight of my experience at ESPOL.

I certainly recommend ESPOL and its different Masters programmes to any and all students that are looking for an opportunity to receive a transformative European education, here in Europe. ESPOL will have all the resources that you need to become a qualified, knowledgeable professional, and I hope that anybody that’s looking for an experience like that one gives themselves the chance of coming to ESPOL and having a positive experience like the one I had.