Help Amani Gilliam Become a Bilingual Counselor

Help Me Experience Colombia: A Journey of Language, Culture, and Personal Growth

Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted supporters,

I’m excited to share with you an incredible opportunity that I believe will be transformative, both personally and professionally. This December, I have the chance to travel to Colombia, a country with rich cultural traditions, breathtaking landscapes, and a deeply rooted Spanish-speaking community. As I continue my journey in learning Spanish, this trip will be an essential step in strengthening my language skills and preparing me for my future career in counseling. As a grad student set to graduate with my masters in late 2025, I see this opportunity as a necessary part of my journey to becoming a community and trauma counselor, where I will treat minority populations with their mental health struggles. I will be able to take both cultural awareness, competency, and a common language into my sessions with my clients-- many of whom are bilingual as they are children of immigrant parents or immigrants themselves.

Here’s why your support would mean so much to me:

Language Immersion & Professional Development: I am currently learning Spanish, and this direct exposure to the language in an authentic, immersive environment will help accelerate my fluency. By practicing with native speakers, I will gain practical, real-world language skills that are essential for my goal of becoming a bilingual counselor. This experience will enable me to better serve both English and Spanish-speaking individuals in my future practice, providing culturally competent care for a broader range of clients.

Cultural Enrichment & Community Engagement: Colombia is known for its vibrant communities and diverse cultural traditions. I am excited to immerse myself in local customs, history, and daily life. The month of December is a great time to experience culturally significant holidays like Dia de las Velitas. Understanding cultural nuances and building connections with local people will deepen my perspective, which will ultimately help me provide more empathetic and effective support as a counselor, particularly for Spanish-speaking clients.

Personal Growth & Future Impact: This trip is not just about learning a language—it’s about gaining a deeper understanding of myself and the world. I have never been outside the country, and I think Colombia is a wonderful place to begin my journey of traveling and experiencing the world. Through this journey, I hope to cultivate a sense of personal growth that will shape both my professional practice and my approach to community service.

To make this vision a reality, I need your support. The funds I’m raising will help cover travel expenses, accommodations, and local experiences that will maximize my learning. Any contribution, no matter the size, would be greatly appreciated and would bring me one step closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a bilingual counselor who can help bridge the gap between English and Spanish-speaking communities. Even if you cannot donate now, please consider sharing with others to broaden my outreach.

Thank you for considering supporting me on this journey. I am truly grateful for your encouragement, and I can’t wait to share the lessons and experiences I know I will gain along the way.

Warmly,

Amani Gilliam