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Former OHS grad to embark on worldwide journey

by Bob Kirkpatrick Editor
| April 6, 2018 1:00 AM

Melissa Guzman will soon be departing on an adventure of a lifetime as she is set to travel to seven different countries over an eight-month period. A $23,000 Bonderman Travel Fellowship she received from the University of Washington makes the trip possible.

“I was really excited to receive the scholarship — I’m still kind of in shock,” Guzman said. “I had been looking forward to it for a long time — I learned about the scholarship when I was sophomore.”

The Bonderman Travel Fellowship created in 1995 through a gift from David Bonderman, offers University of Washington graduate, professional, and select undergraduate students an opportunity to engage in an independent exploration and travel abroad. It is intended to give students insight into cultures and areas of the world they are unfamiliar with.

Guzman was one of 16 students to receive the prestigious endowment.

“I had to apply for the scholarship. It was about eight pages of essays and a proposed itinerary of the places I was planning to go. You had to meet a specific GPA requirement — a minimum 3.64 — I have a 3.7. You also had to provide recommendations,” she said. “A committee reviewed all the applications submitted — chose 40 finalists and then picked eight grads and eight under grads, and I was one of the under grads selected.”

Melissa’s main destination of travel is South East Asia. She will be visiting Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, India and Sri Lanka the first five months or so of her journey before heading to Samoa and Chile.

“The committee wanted us to choose countries that aren’t as modernized as others — places that would push you out of your comfort zone — places you would learn more about yourself and from those you meet along the way.” Melissa said. “I specifically chose the Southeast Asian countries because coming from Othello and eastern Washington, I wasn’t exposed to Asian cultures. I have been though while attending the UW and have made a lot of good friends with people with those backgrounds, which made me increasingly curious about their cultures. It’s a pretty region too and I think there will be a lot to offer there.”

Melissa was born and raised in Othello. She attended Othello High School and was named the 2014 Distinguished Young Woman. Her parents are Jesus and Maria Guzman. Her dad owns Othello Custom Swathing on West Rainier Road. Her mother is a beautician at Trendsetters on South Broadway. She has two older sisters and one younger sister who is attending OHS.

Melissa is a senior at the University of Washington. She is a double major in law societies and justice, and psychology, and has been “heavily involved” in a number of thing while attending the UW.

“I was appointed a position on the ASUW (student body government) judicial committee for two years, and on the ASUW Election Administration Committee. I have also had four internships,” Melissa said. “I interned for an attorney at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project for a summer where I was able to gain legal research experience and assist on an asylum case. I’ve also interned at Ryan, Swanson, & Cleveland, which is a corporate law firm in downtown Seattle. Last quarter I interned at the Seattle Municipal Court as a Case Management Assistant, and this quarter I’m an intern at El Centro De La Raza.”

Melissa has also been on the Dean’s List every quarter at the UW except for one. She has received the annual Dean’s List High-Scholarship award three times, is a recipient of the Plan2Go scholarship, and is an Hispanic Fund Scholar, and a Leadership 1000 Scholar.

She will graduate in June with a Bachelor Degree and plans to go to law school when she returns from her travels.

Melissa embarks on her solo journey in December. Her first stop will be in Thailand.

“It’s going to be a bit scary because I am traveling by myself and I have to arrange for all of my accommodations along the way. But I have done extensive research on where to go and what to do and on places not to frequent that might pose a threat. We’ll all meet with a team of counselors before we go too who will advise us on a lot of things to do and not to do,” Melissa said. “I’ve studied abroad in Madrid and Rome for months at a time and didn’t know anybody, so that’s kind of prepared me for all of this as well.”

Melissa said she would like to have the opportunity to share her experiences with the community of Othello when she returns in the hopes it may encourage others to reach beyond their own comfort zones too.

“Growing up in Othello I didn’t have a lot of Mexican women role models who went to college and did stuff like this,” Melissa said. “By doing this, I hope to inspire Mexican women and girls and boys for that matter at Othello High School to dream big…and that they can accomplish anything if they put your mind to it and are willing to work hard to get it.”

Melissa hopes to correspond with The Sun Tribune during her travels.