What s next after being a Fulbright DAT?

I am not going to lie. When I returned in January 2016, adapting to my reality at my job was very hard. I missed a lot my dearest colleagues teachers from the 8 countries. I missed the beauty of Bloomington and being a student in one of the best Education Schools in USA. I was infected with the bug of travelling, I wished I could spend travelling and visiting great places. In other posts I will talk about it.

In the 2 following years, I have tried very hard to promote the name #FULBRIGHT #COMEXUS and to motivate others to follow my steps:

1. I have presented 8 talks in Universities and schools, about my Fulbright Experience in Indiana University #IU and about global citizenship. I have promoted every grant that is offered to Mexican teachers and students, and among my US Facebook teachers the ones that are granted to them (that are much more)

2. I have sent emails to my fellow English teachers about the summer grant and later I knew 5 were accepted and they loved it. I even wrote a beautiful recommendation letter to a hard worker teacher that is my friend.

3. I applied twice to the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund in 2016 and in 2017. I didn’t win even when my project was well designed, but I think it was a little too ambitious.

4. In 2016 I applied to the Humphrey Fellowship. I wrote a very long application, made to the finals, got the interview, they say I did very well, but I was rejected, it was too soon to apply.

5. In 2016, I took my institution to apply to receive US Fulbright Teacher Assistants. I did all the work, I signed as a responsible for them and got my General Director to ask for 3 of them. They even did not email me about being rejected. I found that the border states with USA are not considered, when they choose where to send them. This is by the Mexican commission from Educative System.

6. I am in touch with my fellow 2015 DAT teachers in Facebook and a WhatsApp group, as well with a group of Mexican Alumni, we share opportunities and give support to each other. 2 weddings were the opportunity to reencounter for them, one In Taiwan and last December another in New Zealand. It was great to see some of them together again in different time and scenarios.

Even when I haven’t won or seen the result of my determination to continue promoting Fulbright Awards, I will keep doing it, because it is my way to thank them and to collaborate in the greatest matters of my country. I firmly believe education is the most powerful force in the world and when I share what I know, I win, because making others stronger, will make my community and country better.