Autumn Pressley

When did you graduate from UGA and what majors, minors, or certificates did you complete?

I graduated from UGA in 2021. I majored in Spanish, minored in Linguistics, and got a certificate in New Media

What did you do after graduation?

After graduation, I did NALCAP, where I taught English in Sevilla, Spain. I did that for a year. 

How was that experience? Highlights?

NALCAP was amazing! I was super interested in living abroad, and NALCAP was the perfect opportunity to be able to do that. I met so many amazing people from all over the world, and was able to make learning a language an exciting experience for my students, which was really rewarding. My highlights were being able to immerse myself and be a resident of a different country! You can learn so much about yourself and the world living in a place different from where you grew up. Traveling a lot was also a great highlight, and so was learning from my students! They learned English from me, but I also learned so much about the Spanish culture and language from them. 

How did majoring in Spanish prepare you for working abroad?

Majoring in Spanish was so helpful because I had to use it every day. It is not a requirement for NALCAP to know Spanish, but it makes it easier to navigate the country, and to communicate with all of the teachers you work with. It allows you to build better connections. I also studied abroad during my time at UGA, and my experience studying in Spain is what made me interested in applying to NALCAP!

What did you do when you came back?

After my year doing the NALCAP program, I came home and started graduate school at Georgia Tech, which is what I am currently doing. I am getting my Masters in Human Computer Interaction. I just finished a User Experience (UX) Research internship at Duolingo this past summer.

What was your experience at DuoLingo like?

Working at Duolingo was an amazing experience. As someone who loves language, it was exciting to be around others who are passionate about language, working towards a common goal of making education available to all. I was able to learn a lot of valuable technical skills, and also was able to keep practicing my Spanish!

What are your future plans and goals?

After I graduate in May, I plan to work as a UX researcher in the tech field. I think I'll be sticking around the educational technology industry a bit longer.

Do you have any advice for our undergraduates?

Study abroad! Studying abroad helped me with my confidence in speaking Spanish, and compelled me to look into other amazing opportunities like NALCAP. The world is your classroom, and studying abroad is a great learning opportunity.

Is there anything else you want to add?

Study what you are passionate about. Before I decided to major in Spanish, I was afraid to major in it because I didn't think I would have a large range of careers to choose from. I decided to go with my gut and study Spanish, and it was the best experience and decision for me. I am now studying something not at all related to Spanish, but I have been able to use what I learned majoring in Spanish in all my internships in undergrad, and also combine my experiences with Spanish and UX in the present. Finding a career is not always linear, but it is more enjoyable when you like what you study.