Participating in the Spanish program at Austin College was a very positive experience as it complimented my Mexican-American upbringing and expanded my knowledge of the Spanish culture. I was able to refine my Spanish writing skills and learn how to articulate myself professionally. I also discovered I enjoy poetry, specifically the literary characteristics associated with the Siglo de Oro and literatura barroca. While my profession affords me very limited opportunities to discuss poetry, being able to relate to Spanish speaking people from other countries is much easier given my exposure to Spanish literature. Diction and syntax vary among Spanish speaking countries and my study of poetry at AC prepared me for future interactions with Spanish speaking people of different ages groups and educational levels. Understanding the meaning of someone’s words and delivering an intended message from English to Spanish and vice versa is an essential part of my job.