During her first tour at Guilford, Margaret fell in love with the natural beauty of campus, especially the idea of having the College Woods and Lake as her backyard. She was also excited by Guilford’s seven Core Values. 

Margaret immediately knew she wanted to meet other students who were drawn to the College for the same reasons. The people quickly became her favorite part of her Guilford experience.

“I absolutely loved going to Guilford because of the people who made it so special. All my friends, classmates, and professors taught me so much in big and little ways,” she shares. “I’m grateful for the special space Guilford creates to foster community and personal connections. To always be surrounded by good friends and community events was such a gift.” 

She’s especially thankful for her advisers, Associate Professors of Spanish Karen Spira and Alfonso Abad-Mancheno, who have continually pushed her to learn and be her best since her first year. 

Margaret, a Spanish (Modern Language Studies) major, says her time at Guilford prepared her for post-grad life. She had plenty of opportunities to grow comfortable asking questions and trying new things. She interned at local nonprofit organization, Thriving at Three, run by the Center for New North Carolinians. She also worked in the Office of Global and Off-Campus Initiatives and as a Spanish tutor. 

During her junior year, Margaret studied abroad in Valparaiso, Chile, where she learned independence and gained confidence. She was also able to view the U.S. from an external perspective. “It was such a powerful time of growth, which my first two years at Guilford prepared me for,” she says. “After an amazing semester I came back to Greensboro stronger and smarter than ever.”

After graduation, her goal was to find a career that allowed her to daily speak Spanish. She quickly found an opportunity at law firm Dummit Fradin, despite graduating during a pandemic. Margaret says she loves her new position as a legal assistant. She schedules appointments with clients, keeps the office organized, and translates meetings and documents.

“I learn something new every day, and I like how it keeps me on my toes. I have been able to explore a whole new field of work, while still sticking to my original goals, and that has been really a great experience,” Margaret says. “And I am grateful and lucky to be safely working and employed during a pandemic!”

She is thrilled to continue living in Greensboro, close to Guilford, with some of her best friends from college. “My relationships at Guilford are so strong that I still feel super connected to my friends,” she says. “I am so grateful for all I learned in that space. I don’t know what the future holds, but this is a perfect stepping stone for me right now!”

Schedule your personalized visit today to learn more about Guilford’s incredible community, internship opportunities, and variety of academic majors.