Interview of Gaby Trevino, returning Global Education Grant Scholar. She was sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Antonio North Central and the Rotary Club of Edmonton in London, England.
Gaby, how did you learn about the Rotary Global Education Grant?
I found out about the Rotary Global Education Grant through a former scholar. I met her while visiting friends in London and she mentioned that she had gotten a scholarship to study there, and knowing that funding for master’s degrees in general is rare, I picked her brain for all the details. I spent a week reading anything I could find about the program, and decided to reach out to my local Rotary club to start the process!
You participated in the Global Scholar-Elect Training Seminar in Houston, Texas, in January 2024. Tell us about this experience – meeting scholar alumni, scholars-elect like yourself, and Rotarians from several districts?
I loved getting to attend the Global Scholar-Elect Training! Prior to the conference I didn’t know much about the history of the Global Grant program, but I met so many scholar alumni turned current Rotarians that shared their experiences with the program throughout the years. It was incredible to hear about how the program had changed, and see that its scholar alumni had such a positive experience that they decided to join Rotary after their scholar experience.
Attending the conference was also my first time meeting fellow scholars-elect, which gave us an opportunity to begin creating a community even though several of us were going to different destinations. I was able to lean on fellow scholar-elects throughout the final stages of the application process, and their support was invaluable.
Meeting Rotarians from several districts helped me realize how vast the Rotary network is, and how welcoming Rotarians are. I so appreciated the chance to learn so much about the amazing work their clubs were doing, and have new friends in several Texas cities!
How did you choose the country you went to and the educational institution where you will be studying?
While I was in undergrad, a lot of the research and authors I read came out of University College London’s School of Education, so I was drawn to the country mostly because of the university’s research. However, after digging into other programs in London, I discovered King’s College London’s MA in Education, Policy & Society. The program had less of a traditional, quantitative policy-evaluation focus and took a more holistic approach to theorizing, creating, and evaluating education policy. I really appreciated the program’s centering of education, education theory, and sociology within education policy, and decided it was where I could learn and grow the most as a scholar, researcher, and person!
What three things were you most looking forward to in your experience? What three things were you apprehensive about – if you have any apprehensions?
I was most looking forward to meeting new people who were passionate about making education better; learning how to navigate an entirely new kind of city; and having the time and ability to think deeply about what I learned in class.
My biggest apprehension was living farther from my family and friends than I ever had before. I was also worried about navigating a new government and healthcare system. And finally, in true Texas fashion, I was worried about adjusting to the wetness and grayness of England! However, with my host club’s support and fellow Global Grant Scholars, I was able to navigate these apprehensions as they came, knowing I had a community to guide me through.
Now that you have completed your graduate year of studies, what are your future plans?
In September, I will be moving to Vigo, Spain as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, and will be teaching English to middle and high schoolers! I am so honored to be able to continue my experience of living abroad, and hope to connect with a local Rotary group in Vigo.
What would you like to say to Rotarians who make this grant possible through their support of the Rotary Foundation?
I feel like the words “thank you” don’t begin to cover how grateful I am to the Rotarians who make this grant possible, but I will start there! Because of this grant, I have been able to see places I never even thought to dream of, and do things my younger self couldn’t have imagined. And best of all, I have had the privilege of being a part of multiple Rotary communities that welcomed and supported me throughout the transition from the US to the UK. Further, I’ve also had the opportunity to conduct original research for my master’s dissertation, which will be one of the first qualitative studies of Pre-K 4 SA. None of the life-changing things I’ve been able to experience would be possible without the generous support of Rotarians!
My year as a Global Grant Scholar was life-changing, and I am all the better for it. I hope to continue working with Rotarians around the world to be able to help others access these kinds of experiences. I am so grateful for the support of North Central San Antonio Rotary, District 5840, The Rotary Club of Edmonton, and all the Rotarians and scholars I have met along the way!
I found out about the Rotary Global Education Grant through a former scholar. I met her while visiting friends in London and she mentioned that she had gotten a scholarship to study there, and knowing that funding for master’s degrees in general is rare, I picked her brain for all the details. I spent a week reading anything I could find about the program, and decided to reach out to my local Rotary club to start the process!
You participated in the Global Scholar-Elect Training Seminar in Houston, Texas, in January 2024. Tell us about this experience – meeting scholar alumni, scholars-elect like yourself, and Rotarians from several districts?
I loved getting to attend the Global Scholar-Elect Training! Prior to the conference I didn’t know much about the history of the Global Grant program, but I met so many scholar alumni turned current Rotarians that shared their experiences with the program throughout the years. It was incredible to hear about how the program had changed, and see that its scholar alumni had such a positive experience that they decided to join Rotary after their scholar experience.
Attending the conference was also my first time meeting fellow scholars-elect, which gave us an opportunity to begin creating a community even though several of us were going to different destinations. I was able to lean on fellow scholar-elects throughout the final stages of the application process, and their support was invaluable.
Meeting Rotarians from several districts helped me realize how vast the Rotary network is, and how welcoming Rotarians are. I so appreciated the chance to learn so much about the amazing work their clubs were doing, and have new friends in several Texas cities!
How did you choose the country you went to and the educational institution where you will be studying?
While I was in undergrad, a lot of the research and authors I read came out of University College London’s School of Education, so I was drawn to the country mostly because of the university’s research. However, after digging into other programs in London, I discovered King’s College London’s MA in Education, Policy & Society. The program had less of a traditional, quantitative policy-evaluation focus and took a more holistic approach to theorizing, creating, and evaluating education policy. I really appreciated the program’s centering of education, education theory, and sociology within education policy, and decided it was where I could learn and grow the most as a scholar, researcher, and person!
What three things were you most looking forward to in your experience? What three things were you apprehensive about – if you have any apprehensions?
I was most looking forward to meeting new people who were passionate about making education better; learning how to navigate an entirely new kind of city; and having the time and ability to think deeply about what I learned in class.
My biggest apprehension was living farther from my family and friends than I ever had before. I was also worried about navigating a new government and healthcare system. And finally, in true Texas fashion, I was worried about adjusting to the wetness and grayness of England! However, with my host club’s support and fellow Global Grant Scholars, I was able to navigate these apprehensions as they came, knowing I had a community to guide me through.
Now that you have completed your graduate year of studies, what are your future plans?
In September, I will be moving to Vigo, Spain as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, and will be teaching English to middle and high schoolers! I am so honored to be able to continue my experience of living abroad, and hope to connect with a local Rotary group in Vigo.
What would you like to say to Rotarians who make this grant possible through their support of the Rotary Foundation?
I feel like the words “thank you” don’t begin to cover how grateful I am to the Rotarians who make this grant possible, but I will start there! Because of this grant, I have been able to see places I never even thought to dream of, and do things my younger self couldn’t have imagined. And best of all, I have had the privilege of being a part of multiple Rotary communities that welcomed and supported me throughout the transition from the US to the UK. Further, I’ve also had the opportunity to conduct original research for my master’s dissertation, which will be one of the first qualitative studies of Pre-K 4 SA. None of the life-changing things I’ve been able to experience would be possible without the generous support of Rotarians!
My year as a Global Grant Scholar was life-changing, and I am all the better for it. I hope to continue working with Rotarians around the world to be able to help others access these kinds of experiences. I am so grateful for the support of North Central San Antonio Rotary, District 5840, The Rotary Club of Edmonton, and all the Rotarians and scholars I have met along the way!