Fearless Friday No. 7 – Allie

Name: Alexandria ‘Allie’ Cedergren
Pronoun(s): She/Her/Hers
Nationality: American
Hometown/city: Chicago Suburbs, Illinois
Current location: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Masters of Public Policy student

Meet Allie

Hi everyone, I’m Allie! I was in the Dual Language program at our public elementary school, which is where I met our wonderful Millennial Abroad blogger, Claire Naughton! We grew up together in the burbs, learning Spanish in school, and eventually running cross-country together in middle school. This early exposure to languages and people from other cultures started my love for learning about others.

I am fluent in Spanish, intermediate in French, and beginning Portuguese and would love to continue learning more. I am currently pursuing my Masters in Public Policy at the University of Chicago and tutoring a group of elementary school kids in Spanish while they endure the hardships of virtual learning.

On Education

Did you participate in study abroad while at school? For how long, and with what program? 

While studying at Michigan State University, I studied abroad in Cuba for a research program for 10 days my Freshman year and also in Valencia, Spain through a Spanish Language program at the University of Virginia my second semester Junior year (4 months). I would absolutely recommend taking any opportunity to study abroad in college.

Cuba was particularly interesting because of the embargo the US has held on the country for decades, so very few people my age have been able to travel there, let alone study Urban Development 

Additionally, if you choose to study abroad in Europe, the plethora of cultures in such close proximity will truly open your eyes to the vastness of this world. I cannot stress enough how important it is to also explore the area where you study and live to fully understand the life and culture of that community.

What advice would you give someone who isn’t interested in attending a traditional college or university, but knows they want to travel?

I think there is definitely a societal pressure to pursue an undergraduate degree directly out of high school, even without really knowing what you want to do. In a situation where you are unsure of what to do in the future, I think it is utterly important to take the time to figure that out. This may be through traveling and learning about other cultures, it could be through volunteering with a variety of organizations to get a feel for what different sectors of work look like.

It is also possible to start at a community college to find that subject you love, or even in today’s day and age, to take classes online for free! Each person has their own path and that doesn’t always start at 18 years old right out of high school

What, in your opinion, are three of the most useful languages someone can learn? Why?

In my opinion, Spanish, Mandarin, and French are three of the most useful languages someone can learn. I know English seems an easy answer, but I feel it is also important to communicate with others in their native language instead of expecting them to learn your own, which in my case is English. It’s a sign of respect and language also carries different meanings in different languages; things are often lost in translation. These three languages make up a large portion of the population and countries of the world as well.

Professional Background

What has working outside your native country taught you about yourself and the culture you come from?

Before starting my Masters program I was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic for just over two years. Learning about the culture of the DR, specifically with the concept of “Machismo,” I feel even more proud to be a feminist and have become more aware of the issues of femicides around the world. 

Living abroad in a few different countries now has also shown me the amount of inequalities most populations face each day, specifically within my areas of interest: environmental and social injustices. After my PC experience, I shifted my focus slightly in public policy to include the issue of environmental justice and climate justice.

I did this because the majority of communities that are impacted the most by climate change and other issues, (such as water quality, air quality and natural disasters), are marginalized and face poverty

These are pressing issues and I see nothing better I could do with an MPP degree than to give back to the communities that have been long forgotten.

On Lifestyle

Do you think young people in your home country would benefit from traveling more? Living abroad more? Why?

Young adults would absolutely benefit from traveling and living abroad more. In my opinion, it is very important to have an understanding of the culture of others around the world. To see how people live outside of our own communities shows there is not just one way to live and there is also plenty we can learn and enjoy.

Too often the US has appropriated cultures to fit our own understanding of what that culture should be; travel gives us the opportunity to enjoy that culture respectively and, hopefully, dismantles some of those preconceived ideas of these Americanized cultures.

One last question

What advice would you give to a young person who knows they want to travel but aren’t sure where that fits in with the rest of their lives?

If you are a young person who wants to travel but is unsure, still travel. Even if that starts with around your native country to explore and get the feel for travel. Moving out of your comfort zone, traveling and meeting new people gets easier over time and will be so beneficial to personal growth. When we are young it is also the most convenient time to travel the world. If you do envision starting a family or a long-time job that doesn’t allow for a lot of vacation time, it is best to take the free time for travel when we have the chance.

Editor’s note: This interview has been lightly edited for concision and clarity.

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If you connected with Allie’s story, she invites you to connect with her on the following platforms:

Blog: https://abroadwithallie.wixsite.com/mysite

Instagram @alski_cedes

For parties interested in reading “CITIZENSHIP AND THE HAITIAN CONFLICT IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC” by Alexandria Cedergren: http://cedergr2.wixsite.com/haitiandomconflict