Vanessa Huerta

“CLS was a turning point in my life. It wasn’t just a trip to another country to learn a foreign language. On the contrary, it was a trip of cultural understanding, personal growth, relationship building, and a milestone to my personal identity.”

Vanessa Huerta was a participant in CLS Russian in 2017 in Vladmir, Russia. As a first-generation business administration student at Loyola University in Chicago, she knew that the CLS Program would be the best study abroad option that would fit her budget, and allow her to continue her Russian language studies in an immersive environment.

Being Mexican American on the CLS Program gave Vanessa an invaluable perspective that set her apart from others in her cohort. She was born in the United States, and surrounded by American culture, but raised in a traditional Mexican household.

After CLS in 2017, Vanessa had the opportunity to return to Russia, this time studying business in addition to Russian language at Moscow State Institute for International Relations. The CLS Program set her up well for facing challenges and being independent abroad.

“It was my second time in Russia that allowed me to appreciate my Mexican American identity. I left Russia with confidence in who I am, what perspective I have to offer, and how looking different is not a bad thing.”