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Sep 08th

About: Eliana Reyes

Eliana Reyes is a graduate of The College of New Jersey. She graduated May 2008 with a degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Spanish and W.I.L.L (Women in Learning and Leadership), which is a mix of Gender Studies and Activism. She resides in a small town called West New York, in northern New Jersey, but was born in the Dominican Republic. Eliana has taken full advantage of her college experience. She has been a leader on campus for four years. She studied abroad in Spain after freshman year where she interacted with different Latino groups and gained a deeper appreciation for their cultures and experiences. By the end of her junior year she managed to have three internships under her belt. Her first internship was with Telemundo Studios where she wrote some of the broadcasted news and field-produced live events, including Latino festivals and breaking news such as homicides. Her other internships were in the areas of grant writing, marketing and public relations. Despite her fulfilling experiences, no adventure was as life-changing as her trip to El Salvador this past summer. Together, 11 women from the college founded The El Salvador Solidarity Project, the first educational/missions program in the school. In two semesters they raised $22,000. Their trip, which began as a small dream, quickly developed into a reality when they landed in a poor country that is scarred with the 12- year Civil War that left the nation with less than 30% of the current population under the age of 30. Living in solidarity with the poor was more than motivational; it was a blessing. It has been trips like these that have brought Eliana closer to her calling in life. She aspires to be an inspirational/professional speaker who focuses on educating the less fortunate people about their opportunities. She specifically enjoys speaking to young women and teaching them how to become independent while making the most out of their lives. She had her first opportunity this past summer when she was invited to be the speaker for a conference at James Madison University in Harrisonburg,Virginia. She spoke about loving yourself and knowing your worth to 50 young women. Her post-graduation plans include travel to Africa and Latino America so she could acquire a global perspective of people and what they live everyday. In the summer of 2008, she traveled to Kenya and blogged about her experience. Eventually she plans to attend graduate school. She values interpersonal relationships and communication, the two basic components that shape society. Her philosophy in life is that we are all “pregnant with purpose.”

Posts by Eliana Reyes: