WKU News

Keylee Garrison: Spanish 

Keylee Garrison knew from the moment she started at WKU in 2017 that she wanted to study Spanish. As a child, Keylee attended Warren Elementary in Bowling Green, which is the third most diverse elementary school in the state of Kentucky. It was there that she met friends of all cultures and backgrounds. “A lot of my classmates spoke a language other than English in their home,” Keylee explains. “Our school’s newsletters always had additional translations and I remember my Spanish-speaking friends teaching me how to read the Spanish section of the newsletter.” However, it was not until high school that Keylee rediscovered her interest in language. She reflects on her first high school Spanish teacher, Florence Laramore: “When you have a teacher like Mrs. Laramore who is passionate about her subject and students, it is not only easier to learn, but you find yourself truly falling in love with the learning process as well.” The summer after graduating, Keylee attended a study abroad trip to Peru with Mrs. Laramore and other students from her high school that lasted two weeks. Her favorite parts of the trip were visiting ancient ruins including Machu Picchu, interacting with the locals, and helping to construct a school where young girls would live and study. Keylee strongly encourages students to try a foreign language because of the vast opportunities it provides for personal growth. In the future, she plans to continue to study Spanish and pursue a law degree.