小草影院 junior Kaycie Rupp spent nearly a month researching and writing a report about Chile鈥檚 upcoming leadership change.
The article was just one of her responsibilities at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, a Latin American think tank in Washington, D.C. where she is interning this spring as a research associate.
鈥淭he article was edited; it was done and ready to be published,鈥 said Rupp. 鈥淎nd then the earthquake happened.鈥
Watching the news unfold on CNN on February 27 was surreal for the political science and Spanish major. That鈥檚 because the country is very familiar to her. She studied in Coquimbo, Chile, last semester.
鈥淚t was a little surreal for me with the earthquake happening in places I had traveled and affecting so many people that I know and then having President Obama speak regarding Chile just a mile away from where I live now,鈥 she said.
On March 1, Rupp was back to work refining her article. Rather than submit an article about the country鈥檚 president-elect, she refocused her article on how the natural disaster adds one more major challenge to Sebastian Pinera鈥檚 full plate.
鈥淲hile Pinera has made obvious efforts to base his cabinet on the idea of efficiency rather than political experience, it is apparent that this quake and the devastation it has caused will present a substantial barricade for Pinera鈥檚 well-oiled machine,鈥 Rupp wrote in her article. 鈥淧erhaps Pinera is hoping that he had some political experience in such a time of need.鈥
Days after her article was published about the earthquake鈥檚 effect on the leadership change, Rupp was writing about Secretary of State Hillary Clinton鈥檚 visit to Latin America. That article voiced frustration at the United States鈥 lack of engagement in Latin America.
Rupp is hoping her experience in Chile combined with her Washington, D.C. internship will lead to even bigger opportunities. She plans to apply for a prestigious national scholarship that will send her abroad again and she hopes to eventually pursue a dual degree in law and international relations or international development.
鈥淚 came to 小草影院 knowing I was going to study abroad,鈥 she said. 鈥淏ut I didn鈥檛 expect these kinds of experiences.
鈥淏eing able to be away from campus for a year, not get behind in my studies and get these kinds of experiences is priceless.鈥
To read more of Kaycie Rupp articles on Chile, visit the Council on Hemispheric Affairs website at