Teaching is learning, as Rob Arrix ’19 discovered his sophomore year when he taught Spanish to fifth-graders at an elementary school near Hamilton. Volunteering at the school is a big part of the learning experience for many Hamilton Spanish-language students.
It was empowering to teach, Arrix found. "Despite being an educator, I was still learning. It gave me an opportunity to practice outside of the classroom and think about things differently," he says. He’s studying abroad now, but when he returns to campus, and when it isn’t lacrosse season (he’s on the varsity team), he intends to again volunteer at the school.
A double major in Hispanic studies and world politics, Arrix is spending a semester in Madrid, immersing himself in the culture and language, and traveling elsewhere in Europe. “It has been one of the most educational, rewarding, and enjoyable experiences in my life thus far,” he says.
He considers his two majors to be a natural fit. "I really enjoy learning about the role of government, international relations, and geopolitical events, and how they impact the world around us. In particular, Latin American politics allows me couple these interests with knowledge of Hispanic culture and history."
Long-term, Arrix would like to work in finance, specifically wealth or asset management in Latin American or Spanish markets.