Laura Sologuren Sanchez

Hometown: Cochabamba, Bolivia
Major: Special Education – Learning Disabilities
Class of 2009

My favorite things…

I love listening to music ― romantic, Bolivian and oldies ― and dancing salsa, merengue, bachata, samba, forro and reggaeton. I like helping others and working with children. The most valuable thing I have in my life is my family.

Studying in America…

Coming all the way to Michigan for school was and still is tough. There’s always something new to learn besides the language, culture and customs. So far, my experiences here have been wonderful. I live in Mason Hall and share a room with an American girl. As an international student, I don’t see a difference between making friends in my country or in the United States. Every time I meet someone new, I just try to be myself.

Being a tutor is rewarding…

I’m a Spanish tutor and, as a result, I help professors correct quizzes, exams and essays. I’m always there for students who need help in Spanish. Knowing more than one language is always helpful. It makes people more diverse, open-minded and, in a way, more cultured.

Books for Africa…

In my short time living on campus, the MSU community has been very welcoming and collaborative. Recently I opened a chapter of a student organization called Books for Africa. Our purpose is to collect and send new and/or used books to children in the African Continent. We’ve collected over 15,000 books. I got involved in this project because I wanted to help people that don’t have the same opportunities and blessings I do. Books for Africa opened my eyes to a new world. Lots of our members are from different nations ― Honduras, Mexico, Venezuela, England, Nigeria, Kenya, South Korea, the United States, Bolivia and more. Even though the majority of us come from different backgrounds, we all have something in common ― the desire to help others.

Going home to give back…

I’m not sure yet what the future holds for me, but I do know that somehow I want to help my country and help the children there ― in particular the special children with learning and cognitive disabilities. I love my country and I know they need me, thus I want to give the best of my knowledge to those that need me.

This is me with some of the members from Books for Africa. We were working at an information fair.

Spending time by the Red Cedar River is one of my favorite things to do on a pretty day.

Here I am with some friends after a Black History Month event on campus.