Anabel Cardoza
Anabel remembers walking into what she thought would be an ordinary school day, only to find a classroom filled with family members, students, and teachers. What she didn’t know was that they were there to celebrate the news that she had received a $50,000 scholarship to attend college. She vividly remembers spotting her family in the crowd, thrilled by what she had accomplished. For her, this was not just a scholarship, but a testament to the hard work of her parents, her older brother's guidance, and her persistence in navigating this process.
It was during a college fair her senior year of high school that Anabel discovered there was a class solely dedicated to understanding how vocal sounds and language work. Phonetics, the professor at the fair shared. Anabel found this fascinating, and it ultimately drove her decision to start her educational path studying Linguistics and Spanish at the University of Kansas.
Always awed by language, connection, and the power of bilingualism, Anabel knew she wanted to keep learning. That is how she found the McNair Scholars Program during her time at KU. This program presented her with more opportunities, including research and mentorship. While in the program, she worked with Professors Robert Fiorentino and Alison Gabriele on research funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). She also completed an undergraduate honors thesis, which contributed to her graduating with honors. These experiences planted the seed for what her graduate school path would look like.
Currently, you can find Anabel in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the University of Minnesota, where she is pursuing her PhD in Hispanic & Lusophone Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics. There, she also teaches Intermediate Spanish, and helps students understand more about the language and the cultures and histories connected to it, as she explains this is an important part of learning a new language.
Her advice for those starting out: Believe in yourself, and never assume certain opportunities are not meant for you. She encourages bilingual students to embrace their bilingualism as an asset and an important part of who they are. Above all, Anabel believes life is meant to be lived fully, with the courage to take risks and pursue what excites you.
