Where the Journey Really Began: Fulbright Symposium in Washington, DC

Before I even set foot in Uruguay, this journey began in the heart of Washington, DC—at the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Global Education Symposium. Held every February, this event brings together selected educators from across the U.S. to prepare for what’s more than a travel opportunity—it’s a global teaching mission.

It was there, surrounded by innovative, passionate teachers, that the pieces started falling into place. Ideas became plans. Names became networks. And a roomful of strangers quickly became a community.

🌍 One Mission, Many Destinations

Candidates in main room

While I had been placed on the Uruguay team, my fellow Fulbrighters were preparing to travel across the globe—some to India, some to Peru, others to Senegal, and Morocco.

We were a diverse group from all types of schools and backgrounds, but we shared one thing in common: a belief that education should reach beyond borders.

There was something energizing about knowing our collective impact would stretch from Latin America to Africa to South Asia—and that we’d return home with stories, strategies, and relationships that could reshape how we teach.

🧠 Ideas that Mattered

Throughout the symposium, we dove into workshops and panel discussions that challenged us to think bigger—and think globally. A few highlights:

• A session on equity in global education pushed me to reflect on how cultural understanding must go hand-in-hand with social justice.

  
  

• Listening to Fulbright alumni share their experiences made everything real. The laughter, the lessons, the “I wasn’t expecting that” moments—they gave voice to what I imagine we’ll all face abroad.

  
  

• One of my favorite moments? Connecting in a breakout session with fellow Latin America-bound teachers, including those also traveling to Uruguay. The excitement was palpable—we were already trading questions, tips, and plans for staying connected.

  
  

✍️ Shaping My Guiding Question

Me and my administrator, Lauren Bryant

The symposium also helped me hone the essential question I’ll explore in Uruguay:

How can I incorporate cultural storytelling techniques and themes from Uruguay into my 12th-grade British literature curriculum to help my immigrant and multilingual students connect with the material and share their own stories more confidently?

With that question in mind, I left DC feeling more than prepared—I felt purpose-driven.

🧳 Leaving DC With a Full Heart

By the time I boarded my flight home, I realized that this journey had already begun. The people I met, the questions we explored, the passion in that room—it reminded me why I do this work. Global education is more than a passport stamp; it’s a mindset, a movement, and a promise to prepare students for the world as it is—and as it could be.

Next up? A post on how I’m preparing for my international travel.