# Alumni Spotlight: Daniela Betancourt November 17, 2022 ![Daniela Betancourt headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum12451/files/drclas2/files/danielabetancourt.png) Daniela Betancourt (AB´22) joined DRCLAS in September 2022 as the year's Brazil Office Fellow. She contributes to the organization of DRCLAS Brazil programs and to the office’s support for faculty, students, and researchers. As a participant in DRCLAS programs during her college years, she was inspired to spend a year supporting the initiatives that helped foster her passion in increasing opportunities and inclusion for underrepresented communities. **Daniela, could you tell us a little about you and your journey at Harvard?** My name is Daniela (or Dani, for short), and I use she/her pronouns. I was born in Texas City, Texas and started at Harvard in the fall of 2018 as a first-generation, low-income college student. I graduated in May 2022 with a concentration in Sociology, a Secondary Field in Global Health and Health Policy, a Citation in Portuguese, and a Certificate in Latin American Studies. I lived in Currier House (<3) and mainly spent my time outside of classwork organizing the annual Latina Empowerment and Development (LEAD) Conference and volunteering with PBHA’s Mission Hill After School Program (MHASP). I also fundraised for the Harvard College Fund as a Student Development Partner and worked for the Frances Loeb Library. I am passionate about working on projects that help mitigate social, racial, and economic inequality. **Once at Harvard, you were surrounded by different associations, clubs, and innumerous opportunities to engage with different cultures. How did you first connect with Brazil? Why did you choose to engage with the Brazilian community?** My first Portuguese class at Harvard during my freshman Spring semester introduced me to many aspects about Brazil. As a native Spanish speaker interested in issues affecting Latin America, in traveling and working in Latin America, and in speaking a third language, I thought studying Portuguese and more about Brazil would be especially enriching. While I enjoyed my Portuguese classes, being a mentor for the [Mentorship and Language Acquisition in Brazil (MLAB)](/mentoring-and-language-acquisition-brazil-mlab) Program through the DRCLAS Brazil Office really solidified my interest in learning more about the Brazilian community. **Could you tell us more about MLAB? We are aware that it is a mentorship program for Harvard students that seek to provide self-empowering experiences for Brazilian youth, that also offers the Mentors opportunities for cultural exchange and an in-person immersion in Brazil. How did the program influence your undergraduate experience?** Yes! MLAB is a mentorship program where Harvard students are paired with lower-income Brazilian high school students who are studying at high quality private schools on full scholarships. For about 6 months, the mentorship pairs work on critical thinking, confidence, and English language skills, as well as university and career goals. Exchanging life stories with my mentee and the rest of the group and helping to develop my mentee’s goals and resources with her was an incredibly meaningful experience. During the in-person immersion, I also learned so much about sustainability, education, social, and racial inequality in Brazil, and about the people working to mitigate these issues. **And after having experienced Brazil through MLAB, you are back in the country through the [DRCLAS Brazil Office Fellowship](/brazil-office-fellowship). Why did you choose to stay connected with Latin America? How do you think your experience at the office will impact your career and future aspirations?** I chose to stay connected to Latin America through this fellowship because I hoped to contribute to the DRCLAS programs that helped shape me into a mindful listener, learner, and global citizen. I also wanted to continue learning Portuguese through full immersion, which has been unlike any experience I have had in the classroom. In addition, I wanted to learn more about Brazil’s diverse sociocultural history and present through my work with the Office and by exploring the country. I aim to become a better advocate for marginalized communities in the U.S. and abroad. Lastly, I yearned for the opportunity to explore different areas of interest—career-related or for pure enjoyment—and to self-reflect. This experience has allowed me to do just that. In my short 2 months of the fellowship so far, I have felt re-inspired while learning from other Harvard students and alumni, DRCLAS staff and faculty, Brazilian students, our research partners in Brazil, and other connections with people and organizations here. Since the fellowship requires 30 hours of work per week, I have also had the time to explore different areas of São Paulo, feeling energized while visiting museums, cultural centers, and parks, eating amazing food, taking dance classes, journaling, stumbling over my very imperfect Portuguese, and much more. Though I’m not totally sure what I will do post-fellowship, this opportunity has re-invigorated my goal of working to expand human rights and has helped me develop more knowledge and confidence to pursue this work. **Lastly, would you like to share any thoughts regarding experiencing Brazil as a part of the Harvard community to other students interested in participating in this fellowship?** Three things come to mind: 1) I recommend this experience to anyone wanting to help with important work at the intersection of higher education, research, and culture and knowledge exchange. 2) I also recommend this opportunity to students who want to step out of their comfort zone and experience the challenges and beauty of building a life abroad. I have found that approaching the day-to-day challenges of living in an unfamiliar place with an open heart and self-kindness has led to immense interpersonal and personal growth, which I have not felt elsewhere. 3) As you apply to this fellowship—and other opportunities like it in which you are a guest in a community—be mindful of the privilege you hold as someone with access to Harvard. Be intentional about making experiences like these generative to you while also minimizing how you contribute, even indirectly, to systems of harm. To apply to the Brazil Office Fellowship, click [here](/brazil-office-fellowship). Deadline is November 15, 2023 *Interview conducted by Maria Lidiane Rodrigues, Communications Intern, DRCLAS Brazil Office.* Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)