ONIF Student Spotlight
Jacob Coronel ’16
School of Education
School of Education
August 24, 2018
Name: Jacob Coronel
Major: Secondary Education, Secondary Credential
Graduation Year: 2016
Fellowship Award: Fulbright U.S. Student Program, 2016-17 English Teaching Assistant to Mexico
- How has this fellowship affected your career goals and ambitions? Fulbright has greatly changed my career goals and ambitions because the door to accomplish my lifelong dreams has been opened. For example, going to Harvard for a doctoral degree is no longer fantasy, but something that can become a reality thanks to Fulbright. Through this program, I have met some of the most intelligent and compassionate people and they've helped me to become a better person and professional myself.
- What motivated you to apply and what were some of the challenges? My family and professors encouraged me to apply for the Fulbright. I had never heard of Fulbright before so I was truly unaware of how rigorous the application process would be. Thankfully, my fantastic mentors, Dr. Setka and Dr. Dyckhoff, were there to coach me through the writing process and most importantly, believed in me when I didn't believe in myself.
- What are your future career goals? My future career goals include going back to school for a doctorate in educational studies, becoming a college professor, curriculum designer, and eventually, the superintendent for a school district.
- What is a cause you’re passionate about? My work in graduate school and pedagogy in Mexico and the US focused on working with English language learners. I've become deeply passionate about working with this group of learners and plan to research how to best help our students succeed in the American public school system.
- What advice would you give to future applicants? Two words: reflection and meditation. Find out what you're truly passionate about because once you find that, the writing and application process will be a lot easier.
- What would people be surprised to know about you? I wanted to be an art teacher before becoming an English teacher. Today, I combine those two subjects inside my classroom to provide my students with an arts-integrated approach to learning.
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The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers research, study, and teaching opportunities in over 140 countries to recent graduates and graduate students. For more information, visit https://us.fulbrightonline.org/fulbright-us-student-program or contact ONIF.