FIU is one of the universities participating in the FLAS Fellowship program which is a federally funded scholarship that helps students who are studying less commonly taught languages with the cost of tuition. As I had a good understanding of the French language, I wanted to challenge myself and learn about Haitian Creole which has a French influence. I was honored to receive the fellowship to support my Haitian Creole studies. The fellowship helped me advance my knowledge of the language and culture of Haiti and inspired me to continue with my language studies as I had a greater understanding of the importance of developing these skills as a part of global competencies. 

I participated in the program during two semesters. The program requires that students take at least one language class and one area studies class for each semester of the program. As a result, I not only improved my knowledge of the Creole language and Haitian culture, but I also took additional classes in Latin American and Caribbean studies which increased my understanding of the region. 

The FLAS Fellowship motivated me to continue my language and area studies education. It helped me understand the value of languages, cultural knowledge, and area studies in the global arena and international affairs.