Alumni Spotlight: Melissa Gómez
Class of 2024
Major:
Hometown:
Bucaramanga, Colombia
Job:
Strategic Communications Specialist at Avid Core
Tell us about your background.
I was born in a small city called Bucaramanga in Colombia. From a very early age, I was interested in radio, film, television and media in general, so I initially got an associate’s degree in radio and television production from Universidad Manuela Beltrán. Then I worked a little bit in the communications field as a radio host, production assistant, content creator and communications coordinator.
What brought you to the U.S. and ultimately Marymount?
Initially, I was part of a cultural exchange program because I wanted to expand my horizons and perfect my English skills. Where I grew up in a small city, I didn’t have many opportunities to interact with people of different cultures, so I wanted to go somewhere where I could learn more about cross-cultural communication. Having previously gotten an associate’s degree, I had a personal goal of obtaining a bachelor’s degree and finishing my higher education journey. I knew I wanted to study in the U.S. so I explored education options for international students in the DMV area. I began my studies at a community college with the plan of transferring to another university after two years. Marymount was the university with the best opportunities, scholarships and career outcomes for international students, so it was sort of a no-brainer. But more importantly, after visiting Marymount I felt it was a place where I would succeed academically and personally. It was an easy decision for me and one of the best decisions I have made.
What was your Marymount experience like overall?
It was overwhelmingly positive. Being an international student, I was far from my family and friends and it could be very isolating at times. But Marymount’s small, dynamic community helped me feel at home and build connections with fellow students. Marymount also has such an active campus community — you can never get bored! There was always something to do and I really enjoyed the fitness classes, events and community-building activities held across campus year-round. Marymount helped me get involved and succeed academically as an international student.
Marymount is a Hispanic-Serving Institution with a very diverse student body. How did this add to your educational experience?
My experience was so positive because I felt seen and heard. I was in a space where I wasn’t the only international student or one with a unique educational experience. This gave me confidence, so I wasn’t afraid to raise my hand in class or share my perspectives. The Hispanic community on campus is rich and united, and I met so many amazing people from all over Latin America and the rest of the world. That helped me expand my perspective, adopt a more global mindset and learn to see the world through someone else’s eyes. Attending a university with such a rich mix of experiences and backgrounds was wonderful and very special to me.
What are your future career goals?
I have discovered public engagement and outreach through my work as a communications specialist at Avid Core. As a bilingual person, I can effectively go into local Hispanic communities and get their feedback and address their concerns. I’d like to continue exploring public engagement as a more experienced communications professional. I’d also love to continue working on film production and storytelling on the side. Film and TV will always be my first love and something I am passionate about. Hopefully, someday I can combine my two interests and use film to engage more communities and create positive change.
What would you say to other international students who want to study in the U.S.?
It’s not easy and it’s going to be scary. There are going to be moments where you want to give up and go back home, but there will also be moments when you find yourself succeeding more than you thought was possible. It’s a growth process and there’s going to be good tied in with the bad. In those hard moments, reach out to your community and the people around you for support. If you’re a student in the DMV area, I would highly recommend Marymount University because it’s an institution that embraces you completely, and you’re going to find a really fun group of people and a lot of resources.
