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Name: Savannah Ransome 
Major: Markets and Culture
Minor: Spanish and Statistics
Graduation Year: 2016

“My name is Savannah Ransome. I’m from Grosse Point, MI and I majored in Markets and Culture with a minor in Spanish and Statistics. After graduation, I went to work for Huitt-Zollars, and A/E firm in Dallas, and I am currently working as a Business Development Coordinator.”

Why did you choose to minor in a World Language? 

I have always had a passion for Spanish and the various cultures this language is a part of. When I came to SMU, I tested into sophomore level Spanish and found my niche right away. Spanish became a constant in my school schedule – a class each semester where I had the privilege to learn about cultures and dialects different from my own.

How do you think studying a foreign language helped to prepare you for your career?

In Texas, Spanish is a necessary language to understand. Even rudimentary Spanish helps you connect to the world around you and opens you up to a better understanding of people, culture, and the world. Being able to converse with those around you makes you well rounded individual. In my experience, my understanding of Latin American culture has made my doing work with the El Paso office run much smoother and my partnership with a Puerto Rican architect one of respect and cultural awareness.

What advice do you have for other students thinking about majoring or minoring in a foreign language? 

Studying a foreign language won't always be easy but the opportunities that language opens will be life altering. I studied Spanish and it instilled a passion to travel and understand world culture in a way I would have never felt before. “Do one thing every day that scares you.” - Eleanor Roosevelt