Language and Art
Ohio Wesleyan Student Completes Immersion Internship at Art Museum in Spain
Name: Hailey MacGregor ’24
Hometown: North Ridgeville, Ohio
High School: North Ridgeville High School
Major: International Studies
Minors: Spanish and Politics and Government
OWU Connection Experience: Interning at the Museum of Navarra in Navarra, Spain
MacGregor and OWU classmate Lauren Campbell ’24 of Portsmouth, Ohio, completed a summer internship at the University Museum of Navarra, which works to bring art and community together.
My Favorite Moment
“My favorite moment was during the internship at the Museum of Navarra. It was called ‘Hi Artist!’ and it was a camp with kids ranging from ages 5 to 11 years old. I remember speaking Spanish to these three girls, and I pronounced something that I thought was correct. However, I was humbled very quickly when the girls were confused about what I said and corrected me.
“I pronounced the word ‘todo’ as ‘torro,’ which means bull. So, when I said ‘I liked it all,’ they thought I said ‘I liked bull,’ which they laughed at and called me ‘torro’ the entire camp. They also made Lauren and me a United States flag with our names on it, and I have it to this day.”
Lessons Learned
“I learned that the professors want us to speak more, even if it is scary. I was extremely nervous to speak, I was afraid of my accent and how I looked, or if I said the wrong thing.
“I learned all that matters is actively trying to speak, and when you do try, you do learn even more. I couldn’t be happier that I went out of my comfort zone and actively spoke, mostly broken, Spanish to natives, and I was proud of myself they understood me.
“This experience showed me a whole new world and a new standpoint. It has influenced me to learn more languages even if it is small talk, explore the world, and never stop learning because it was incredible to learn the language and culture. I want to be a well-rounded person, and exploring the world is going to be a huge part of that.”
An Import Experience
“This experience matters because it opens your point of view of the world, language, and culture. It allows you to be more confident, step out of your comfort zone, and learn about yourself, others, and the culture around you all in real time. It’s an eye-opening experience that I encourage everyone to do.”
This University has allowed me to become a well-rounded person, learn in an immersive way, and open my eyes to endless possibilities.
Why I Chose Ohio Wesleyan?
“I wanted a small classroom where the professors knew my name. I wanted to be a person and not a number or statistic. Ohio Wesleyan has given me that opportunity, and I love all my professors. The personal connections allow me to learn better and have fun while learning.
The OWU Connection intrigued me. I always wanted to study abroad, and the fact they have so many programs and resources showed me they care about their students traveling and getting world experience. Even as I attended, every single advisor has encouraged me to travel and gave me easy paths to do so.”
My Plans After Graduation
“I plan on becoming a real estate agent and, hopefully, one day go into politics later down the road. This University has allowed me to become a well-rounded person, learn in an immersive way, and open my eyes to endless possibilities. Ohio Wesleyan gives me a caring staff that is truly there to make sure I succeed in anything I choose to do. I can’t thank them enough for everything they have done for me.”