Alana Schwartz ’25 has long been drawn to the connections that surface when people look past their differences and toward a shared understanding. That curiosity now plays out in a classroom in northwest Spain.
Schwartz, a UT San Antonio alumna and former Top Scholar who earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology with a minor in chemistry, is currently serving as a Fulbright U.S. Student Program English teaching assistant in Ourense, Spain, a role that allows her to live fully within the program’s mission of cultural exchange.
Through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, Schwartz is part of a global educational exchange that emphasizes mutual understanding through teaching, research and cultural immersion. Each year, the Fulbright Program supports thousands of students and professionals worldwide.
Schwartz is one of approximately 1,800 U.S. students selected annually to teach, conduct research or pursue graduate study abroad. Schwartz’s Fulbright placement in Ourense was a natural continuation of earlier academic and travel experiences in Spain that cultivated her passion for language, culture and service.
While at UT San Antonio, she participated in an Honors College study abroad program, which provided her the opportunity to walk the Camino de Santiago, a famous network of pilgrimage routes crossing Europe that leads to the region of Galicia in northwest Spain.
The program, led by modern languages professor Nathan Richardson, introduced her to the region’s beautiful scenery and welcoming culture. While she learned about the various Spanish regions, dialects and people during this program, she was particularly moved by Galicia’s embracing community spirit.
Schwartz pursued additional travel and research experiences through UT San Antonio, including a study abroad program in Peru through the College of Liberal and Fine Arts and the Trailblazing the National Parks program offered by the Honors College. These experiences prepared her to fully embrace Fulbright’s mission of fostering mutual understanding between cultures and strengthened her interdisciplinary interests in anthropology, medicine and global engagement.
Unlike traditional study abroad programs in which students often live with other students or in a university setting, the Fulbright experience requires both deep independence and community integration. Schwartz has immersed herself in everyday life across Galicia and beyond, spending holidays with local families and participating in traditions such as eating 12 grapes to celebrate Spain’s New Year’s Eve.
The transition to Spanish life was not without its challenges though. Opening a Spanish bank account and phone number, as well as securing housing in a new language, all demanded resilience and adaptability. However, Schwartz said that these obstacles reinforced her confidence and affirmed her ability to thrive in unfamiliar environments.
Schwartz teaches English at a school for students aged 12-16 in Ourense, a province in the Galicia region. When she first began teaching, her students expressed that they either loved English or didn’t care for it at all. Schwartz amusingly recounts that her students narrowly understood the U.S. to be home to New York City, California and Texas. Grounded by her belief that learning to speak English requires more engagement than writing, she set a goal to ensure that every student in her classroom — even the quiet ones — were able to speak English and understand America to be more nuanced than its stereotypes.
Schwartz encourages her students with a bit of wisdom she learned from Richardson when she was his student: “Have a childlike mindset when it comes to language learning. No filter, eyes open, ready to ask questions.”
In reflecting on her time in Ourense, Schwartz noted that “the most rewarding aspect of my time here has been seeing students gradually participate and engage, which has confirmed my aspiration to pursue teaching in the future.”
While Schwartz always knew she wanted to pursue a career in medicine, her time teaching English as a Fulbright recipient has reshaped her professional goals. She is currently applying for teaching positions in the U.S. while preparing to apply to medical school in the next cycle. Her long-term vision is to become a physician-educator.
During her application process, Schwartz sought assistance from the UT San Antonio Office of Nationally Competitive Awards, whose staff helped review her application materials, identify a region that aligned with her interests, refine her interview skills and ultimately help her tell her story.
The Office of Nationally Competitive Awards serves as the official Fulbright Program advising office for students at UT San Antonio, and works with rising seniors, graduate students, and alumni to apply to the program. Since 2020, 22 of the university’s students have received Fulbright awards to teach English, conduct research or pursue funded master’s programs.
