For my STEP Signature Project, I participated in Ohio State’s ES HESA 3573 course, Leadership in Learning Organizations, during the Spring 2025 semester. I attended weekly classes with a cohort of 16 students and 3 co-facilitators. In class, we discussed the Social Change Model and its seven core values: Consciousness of Self, Congruence, Commitment, Collaboration, Common Purpose, Controversy with Civility, and Citizenship. We reflected on how we can apply these values in our own leadership styles, while also exploring various cultural interpretations of leadership and critiques of leadership theory.
Over spring break, the cohort traveled to Spain, staying in Madrid and Barcelona. We took cultural and historical walking tours led by locals, discussed career development with an Ohio State alumnus living abroad, and tasted lots of delicious food. We even participated in a cooking class and worked together to create a traditional Spanish meal! While in Madrid, I explored the city center, saw a flamenco show, and had an engaging conversation with a Spanish political journalist. In Barcelona, I met my goal of seeing several buildings designed by the architect Antoni Gaudí, including his ornate cathedral, La Sagrada Familia. We also visited the cities of Toledo and Montserrat, where we learned about their religious and artistic significance.
Throughout my ten days in Spain, I gained a deeper insight into my identity, the influence of religion in Spanish history, the modern politics of Spain, and the responsibilities of being a world traveler.
I was not expecting to learn so much about religion on this trip, but I was pleasantly surprised by the opportunities for deep reflection with my classmates. Visiting Toledo was one of the most emotional and transformative parts of my trip. Toledo was once Spain’s capital and had a long period of peaceful coexistence between Christians, Jews, and Muslims. While there, we learned about the Spanish Inquisition, and how it ended the peace between cultures. My Jewish heritage is an important part of my identity, and visiting a place where people like me were systemically converted, killed, and exiled stirred up complicated emotions. However, I was elated to find remnants of Jewish culture in Spain, more than 500 years after the expulsion. I was nearly brought to tears by the tilework in Toledo’s Jewish Quarter, which depicted the Hebrew word חי (chai), meaning “life”. It reminded me that my people are resilient and continue to persist through hardship.
Each city we visited contained churches, cathedrals, monasteries, synagogues, and other places of religious significance. I am fascinated by other religious perspectives, and I had many meaningful conversations with my classmates about their upbringings and beliefs. For example, while at the Monastery in Montserrat, we learned about their renowned boys’ choir. I spoke with a few Catholic classmates about their love for religious choral music and their varying relationships with their faith. I appreciated the opportunity to get to know my cohort members better and hear personal accounts of Catholic culture.
Another transformative aspect of my trip was our engagement with Spanish politics, especially regarding immigration and activism. As an aspiring immigration lawyer, I am incredibly curious about how immigration systems are run and received in other countries. I previously assumed that the United States had the most complicated relationship with immigrants. However, in our meeting with a radio journalist who covers immigration, I learned that Spain is similarly divided. I found it especially interesting that, much like the US, Spain relies on immigrant labor to supplement its rapidly aging and retiring workforce. In contrast to the US, they typically welcome Latin American immigrants, appreciating their shared historical background and use of the Spanish language. This made me reflect on the prominent attitudes toward Latin American immigrants in the US, and the bigoted “speak English” mentality of many who are opposed to their presence here.
An overarching theme of the experience was the exposure to the Spanish language. Although this trip was not language-focused, I was determined to practice my skills. I am much better at reading and writing in Spanish than speaking, so it was challenging to get started. However, even in such a short time, I began to feel more confident interacting with store clerks, waiters, and our local tour guides in Spanish. I also got to hear Catalán, the second official language of Barcelona, aloud for the first time. People seemed to appreciate when I tried to communicate in their native language. I hope to travel more in the future, and I will continue to develop skills that will help me be a more responsible and respectful visitor.
The new information I learned, the breathtaking sights I saw, and the abilities I developed will be valuable as I enter my senior year of college and professional life. I gained a better understanding of my identity, and as I learned through my ES HESA 3573 coursework, self-awareness and pride in one’s background can be useful tools for effective leadership. I also strengthened my cultural competency and language skills, which will be essential in a field characterized by global diversity. Finally, this experience has helped me feel more comfortable traveling abroad, which I hope will be a part of my life moving forward. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity, and I am excited to implement my takeaways to become a stronger leader.
