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Sophia Robinson left her hometown in North Carolina to begin her year in the Dominican Republic as a fellow at Yspaniola, working to provide high-quality educational programs for local children.
Sophia Robinson ’22, an international and global studies major with a minor in Spanish from Charlotte, North Carolina, is moving to the Dominican Republic to work in the international development industry for Yspaniola.
Robinson credits the team at Elon’s Student Professional Development Center (SPDC) for their support during the job search and hiring process, which helped her land her Yspaniola Scholar role.
As a Yspaniola Fellow, Robinson works to achieve the organization’s mission of providing marginalized communities with access to high-quality education. Robinson helps provide long-term solutions to deeper-rooted problems.
Robinson recently answered some questions from the SPDC about her experience landing this prestigious position.
How did your interest in working for Yspaniola develop?
I have always had an interest in traveling and working in the international development industry. I was unable to complete my study abroad experience due to COVID-19, which made me even more motivated to look for a job or study abroad opportunity. I was looking for work opportunities in the non-profit sector and came across Yspaniola, an organization that works with further education and literacy for children in a very low-income area, as well as documentation issues for Haitian Dominicans. I was so excited because the fellowship seemed to be everything I was looking for in terms of an international experience and a non-profit organization in the field of international development. I saw that it was in the Dominican Republic, which was also very exciting for me since I am a native Spanish and my minor is in Spanish, which added to my academic proficiency. I knew this would be a great opportunity and learning experience for me!
When you met with SPDC staff, what were you trying to accomplish?
When I met SPDC I was looking for help with the job search process as it can be quite overwhelming. Specifically, I needed help finding websites and search areas that would lead me to jobs in my field of interest. After finding a job I was interested in applying for, I wanted help making sure my application and interview were up to par to get hired.
Who did you work with and what did you learn from your experience with SPDC?
Rachel Risch, my career advisor, gave me lots of helpful networking tips and advice on how to contact the employers I was interested in before the application process to learn more about the opportunity and show initiative. I also participated in career sessions provided by SPDC’s Paul Hvozdovich, who partners with the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education’s (CREDE) SMART mentoring program. Through my interaction with SPDC, I learned how to use LinkedIn, the SPDC website, and various job search sites.
How was your experience getting this opportunity at Yspaniola?
I did a lot of research about the organization before I applied. After realizing how excited I was about this opportunity, I reached out to Rachel Reese who was working with me to find the right next step. She recommended that I email one of the current fellows via LinkedIn to learn more about their experience and set up a meeting. The meeting went very well and I was sure that this was my next step after Elon. I wrote a cover letter and received help from staff at both CREDE and SPDC to revise it and prepare for my interviews. I went through two interviews and had to prepare a project plan, including how I would execute it from start to finish if hired. I received an email a few weeks later notifying me that I had received the position.
What specific things about the company culture impressed you?
The workplace environment seemed very friendly and positive. For example, one of the job listing qualifications that stood out to me was “good sense of humor,” which I believed was a positive indicator that the workplace was friendly and open.
What did you learn about the people, the culture and the work you will be doing that made you want to pursue a career with Yspaniola?
Hispaniola seemed to meet all my requirements in terms of people, culture and work. I wanted to be part of an organization that helped people better support themselves and help themselves, rather than providing short-term solutions to deeper-rooted problems and then leaving. Yspaniola’s mission statement specifically struck me: “We believe in an inclusive Dominican Republic that provides access to high-quality education and promotes the human rights of all people.” This is something that aligns with my personal and professional goals and made me want to to continue to continue to communicate with Hispaniola.
Did you work with other staff or faculty members to prepare for the application process?
I received help from various staff who work for CREDE, in particular Sylvia Munoz and MJ Larrazabal, who really helped me prepare for my interviews and reviewed my cover letter. They have helped me tremendously and I greatly appreciate their unwavering support.
What recommendations would you share with other students about SPDC?
I would recommend that students go to SPDC with any questions or advice they may be looking for, even if they seem trivial. There are tons of tools, resources, and great tips available designed to benefit students, take advantage of them!
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