Participant Name: Stephan Pham
Major: Economics, Minor in Sociology
Year: First year
Pronouns: He, Him, His
¡Hola mis amigos! My name is Stephen Pham and I am excited to become a part of the Costa Rica Program Participant Team this year. I am currently a first-year Economics Major with aims to minor in Sociology and to specialize in the School of Social Sciences’ International Issues and Economics. I am a Vietnamese-American first-generation student from San Jose, California (Coincidentally also a city in Costa Rica!).
It was in my hometown where two beloved teachers introduced me to the complexities of the Spanish language and diverse cultures and histories (dance, religion, food, architecture). Transitioning into college, I am hoping to expand on the knowledge and experiences that I gained from my San Jose mentors in order to one day become a teacher myself. Being that I am a first-time traveler, I see the Costa Rica Program as one of the stepping stones that will assist in my development as a leader and future educator. I know challenges lie ahead but I am eagerly looking forward to the challenge of adapting to a new territory. I first became exposed to Costa Rica when I was assigned a history group project about Latin America that tasked students with understanding the social, political, economic, and cultural development and progression of countries such as Costa Rica.