Stories of Impact: Jocelyn Aponte

When I visited the Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Germany and saw the crematory, it hit me: How many souls went through this place alone and lost their lives?

These moments of discovery didn’t come to me while reading from a textbook. Instead, they came to me while studying abroad in Berlin. There’s a vast difference in learning about other people and their country when I’m physically in that space. I witnessed, in real-time, how their society and culture work.

The program cost was a barrier for me. I would not have studied abroad without earning a scholarship and I am most grateful to be a recipient.

It was not until I visited Berlin museums, World War II and Holocaust memorials that I truly realized their connection to America and how much work needs to be done as far as providing inclusive history to our country’s dark past. The hands-on experience gives me an edge in the professional field. I have been able to model the research I’ve conducted, both in person and via literature, on German concentration camps to Alta California missions.

My career aspirations are to become a historical interpreter for the National Park Service, translating collections and research into exhibits for the public. My goal is to create inclusivity by telling the stories of underrepresented populations, such as Indigenous groups. Most interpretations look only at one side of history: This needs to change if we are to understand one another and heal as a country.

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Students share, in their own words, how they were empowered by their Titan education. Thanks to you, our generous community of donors, these students discovered their passions and leadership potential in academics, arts and athletics.

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