Ian Slifcak
Senior Political Science and Spanish major Ian Slifcak has a passion for social justice.
By pursuing internships, community service and education abroad experiences that center on social justice, Slifcak says he’s been able to connect with people who are different than him and learn more about the world. He hopes to continue this pattern of helping others by pursuing a graduate program in Spanish after graduation, so he can one day share his passion with others through teaching.
“Social justice has always been something I’m curious about and concerned about,” Slifcak said. “These experiences have been an interesting way to see what kind of struggles people face and what is being done about them–to solve them and to help people out.”
Through his current internship position as a field organizer for the Ohio Democratic Party, Slifcak has been helping students register to vote and encouraging them to use their voice by voting in the primaries. He also held a position with Community Food Initiatives, a local grassroots organization that works to provide equal access to healthy foods. Slifcak is continuing to serve the community by assisting with the organization’s Donation Station this semester.
‘Seeing How People Live’
Slifcak’s study abroad experiences have also shaped his career goals. He cites his Summer 2014 trip to Toledo, Spain, as a turning point in his language education.
“It was a really rewarding experience because for the first time I felt that I really gained a confidence to speak and communicate in Spanish, which I’d been studying since the eighth grade,” Slifcak explained. “It was really rewarding to be fully immersed in the language and culture and learn about different people and different customs and the Spanish way of life.”
Inspired by the fresh perspective he gained in Spain, Slifcak applied for another study abroad experience, this time in Costa Rica. As opposed to focusing on Spanish language and culture as his trip to Toledo did, this program had a global public health focus, and corresponded well with Slifcak’s own social justice values.
“We got to see different parts of the country and how people there lived,” he said. “We had the opportunity to see how their health care system works and how their sanitation systems work.”
Armed with a new-found confidence in Spanish and a broader worldview, Slifcak decided to apply for graduate school for Spanish. He also has applied to teach English in Spain, through a temporary program sponsored by the Spanish government.
“Ideally, I’d go back to Spain for a year, gain some teaching experience, improve my Spanish, and then go to grad school,” Slifcak explained. “I’d like to continue to help people in some capacity, whether that be through teaching or working for the government.”
‘And Forming Meaningful Relationships. . .’
When asked why students should study languages, Slifcak emphasized the importance of shared language in forming meaningful connections.
“The most rewarding thing for me is to be able to form a meaningful relationship with somebody who is very unlike me,” Slifcak said. “It’s a way to connect with people and I think, in the process, you learn a lot more about yourself and your own culture. It’s a great way to learn about the world around you.”
For Slifcak, studying Spanish and traveling abroad have been instrumental in shaping his college experience.
“If I do choose to pursue teaching Spanish, without a doubt having learned the language and improved my language skills will be greatly beneficial,” he said. “And studying abroad is a good test of putting you outside your comfort zone and seeing if you can adapt and work with others.”
For those students contemplating an international education experience, Slifcak has a few words of advice:
“Go. Definitely go. It can be very overwhelming at first and it might not be comfortable, leaving behind your family and friends and going to a new place, but it’s totally worth it,” he said. “In doing so, you will learn a lot about yourself, and you’ll experience the world and see how other people live.”
“I would say, without a doubt, studying abroad has been the most rewarding part of my college experience.”
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