Explo at Wellesley: Veronica from Venezuela

This is your last full day at Explo. How have you enjoyed your time at the program?
Oh my god, I love it. It's been such an amazing experience. I made a lot of close friends here and I just loved the courses and workshops that I've been able to take. I really don't want go home yet!

Which courses did you take?
I took Interior Design and Photography. For Interior Design, we had a final project that was a model of the room we'd like to create when we grow up, which we showcased at Explosé. It was really nice, because we had whatever materials that we needed available, and we could really design what we wanted. The teacher was great and the people made the atmosphere really fun. And I really like photography, because my grandfather was a photographer, so ever since I've been little, I wanted to follow in his steps. And my workshops were Garage Band, Video Editing, and Pilates.

That's a good mix. What interests you about interior design?
Well, when I grow up I want to become an architect. But I also want to study interior design, because I really like the way people can design a beautiful room starting from just a white wall. It's such a creative process, and I love seeing the transformation. My parents are both engineers, so I've always liked art, and when I see great architecture, I feel really inspired by it. I also have an uncle who was an architect, and I want to follow in his steps.

That's great. Have you found it easy to make friends at Explo?
Yes, the people are so nice here. I've met so many people from my classes and from my hall that then introduced me to more people. It's crazy, because I've met people from Panama, from Columbia, and even from Venezuela that I didn’t know before I came here — and they live in the same country that I do. My roommate is from China, and we really understand each other. She talks to me about China and I tell her about Venezuela, and it's so cool to compare the differences. I was really scared when I came here the first day, but everyone was so friendly right away. You're always out on the Quad, so it's easy to make friends just by sitting next to someone new and introducing yourself.

Have you been able to try something new here?
A lot of things, actually. The classes are really different from the ones I take in Venezuela, because you can really be creative and do what you want here. It's great because you can talk to the teacher and the people in class — you're not just listening to the teacher lecture the whole hour. You can really explore yourself here.

Definitely! Was there a main event that really stood out to you?
Take A Stand. That main event was so inspiring, because there were people who were bullied in their schools, but here at Explo they have so many great friends. It must have been a real transformation. I felt really sad hearing people's stories, but I'm so happy they shared. There are people here from so many different countries, and it's hard to communicate sometimes, because we don't have the same culture or religion. But I also really loved Cruise Night. I had never been on a cruise before, so it was a really fun experience. They put on Latin American songs that I knew, so we were all dancing and it was so much fun. It exceeded my expectations!

What makes you unique?
I'm always smiling, even if I'm sad [laughs]. I don't know why, but I've always been like that. Another thing that makes me unique is that here is that I'm the only one that speaks Spanish in my living group, which is really cool because the girls on my floor will ask me to help them with their homework, and I can. So I really feel good about that.

That's great. When you return to Venezuela, how will you describe Explo to your friends?
I would describe it as the best program that I've ever been to. It's been a really good experience, the courses are the best that you'll take, and you can really explore yourself here. You can meet people from Germany, from China — from everywhere. You have a lot of freedom here, like being able to walk to the Vil, and being able to go on weekend trips. I would also say that the campus is beautiful, the food is really good, and it's very easy to make friends and to communicate with people here.

What will you miss most about Explo?
I will miss the amazing friends that I made here, especially my living group and the people I've met from all over the world. And I'm going to miss the freedom that I have here. It's very dangerous where I live in Venezuela, so I don't have the same freedom there. Often I have to stay in the car, whereas here we can just walk to the Vill, which has been such a nice experience. But I will miss everything — I just really love Explo!