Amanda M. Stechschulte

Biography

My love of Spanish began in high school when I studied in Mexico through Rotary Youth Exchange. I fell in love with the language and the wonderful people. Later, at Saint Mary’s College, I was exposed to Spanish and Latin American literature, and I knew I had found my field. I was able to study at the University of Madrid for a year, and that cemented my desire to continue with graduate studies in Spanish. I spent a year volunteering with the Sisters of the Holy Cross in Los Angeles, and I was happy to use my Spanish skills in working with Mexican and Central American immigrants.

The thing I love most about a liberal arts education is that it exposes students to everything from sciences to the arts. At Hillsdale College, students enjoy four years of great education, quality friendships, and a supportive community. Our students are thoroughly prepared for any job, but they also have learned to reason and to consider how their actions affect those around them. Personally, I enjoy the opportunity to teach everything from basic grammar to advanced literature, composition, and history classes. I have been teaching at Hillsdale College for twenty years, and I have found the students to be extraordinarily bright, mature, respectful, and responsible and my colleagues to be wonderful and dedicated.

Although Spanish can be challenging for certain students, it is worth the struggle. I love to note the progress my students have made during the semester, and it is a joy to see their enthusiasm grow. When a student learns how to communicate in Spanish, he or she is open to an entire world of people, history, and literature. Not only is Spanish a very enjoyable discipline, but it also can provide wonderful opportunities and open many doors. It only makes sense to learn a second language in our global economy.

When I am not teaching, I am reading, enjoying time with my family, taking long walks, and traveling as much as possible.