Jenn Sosa Ramírez
Pronouns
Degree and Class Year
Hometown
Major
Minor
Extracurriculars
Overseas study
What three words would you use to describe L&C?
Tell us about your heritage. How has this shaped your educational and/or career journey?
My family comes from the jungle. From the deep greens of the Yucatán peninsula in Mexico, and where the milpa lifestyle (Mesoamerican agro-ecosystem for maize, beans, and squash) is the normal way of life. Where the concept of time is determined by the sun. Where my grandma swings in her hammock and watches her chickens and dogs run around free. Where very few people speak Spanish, and all the elderly ladies dress in their huipils. Having this as my heritage is what inspired me to pursue my Hispanic studies major. I became interested in understanding the complex dynamics of being Indigenous in Latin America and in order to begin to understand that, I had to solidify my understanding of “Hispanic” and what colonization means in the Latin American context. The complexities that make up my heritage are what inspire my curiosities and make me want to learn more and more!
What’s your favorite class? Why?
My favorite course is Narrativa historica contemporanea en Mexico (Contemporary Historical Narratives in Mexico) taught by Professor Magalí Rabasa. I cannot express enough how beautiful this course is. We are currently studying four major contemporary historical events from Mexico and diving into the power of the collective, of having a voice and being listened to, and deconstructing traditional ways of looking at historical events. It’s so cool that I get to take a class like this because the content has been life changing and because Magalí is an amazing instructor.
What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?
L&C has a great financial aid package. I also got to visit the school and stay in one of the residence halls through the former Compass Scholar Program. Getting the opportunity to visit the school before making a decision made me feel valued, and it was really amazing because that is where I got to meet some of my friends who also ended up saying yes to Lewis & Clark. I also love how green the campus is. It’s a different green than the green of my home, but it is still beautiful.
What do you like or find most interesting about your major?
How friendly and supportive the Hispanic studies professors are. They bring so much enthusiasm and passion to everything they teach, and they’re able to make students feel that same enthusiasm for the content. I love how interdisciplinary my major is because I’ve gotten to take courses from different departments like history and music, and I got to study abroad in Spain! Hispanic studies is not just about the Spanish language but it’s also about everything that comes with it, like culture, history, art, music, etc.
What do you like or find most interesting about your minor?
What I like about my minor is that I have gotten to expand on my mathematical knowledge while also working on my personal skills. Doing math doesn’t come naturally to me but all the professors I’ve had have taught me how to have patience, how to appreciate a math problem, and how to tackle it. They were always willing to sit down and help me work out a problem, were very encouraging, and helped me build confidence in my math skills.
