Barry Fellowship Alum Spotlight

Carolina Cooper, 2008 Barry Fellow

Carolina Cooper, ES '11 was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and is involved with the Latin American Students Organization (LASO) at Yale.

Her summer on the Barry Fellowship:
I spent the summer after freshman year doing research on the political oppostion movements to Chavez and Morales in Venezuela and Bolivia. I chose this project because I have always been extremely interested in Latin American politics, and because the governments of Chavez and Morales have a huge impact on Brazilian politics. Once I had decided on what I wanted to do research, I contacted the largest number of Yale people possible that could be helpful - professors, alumni, and Latin American students. They were all extremely useful in either giving me helpful tips or contacts in my destinations, which allowed me to draft a proposal that was extremely focused and realistic.

In Venezuela, I lived with a local family and lived a very local life. I had meals at home every day, and indulged in delicious arepas for breakfast at least three times a week! In Bolivia, I stayed in a hostel, which was very different because it didn't give me as much access to local culture and people, but it still allowed me to meet very interesting travelers. In both countries, I spoke Spanish most of the time, which made me improve significantly in the language.

Meet Past Barry Fellows

The best part of my summer was getting an in depth perspective of another culture. Living in a foreign country for a month is extremely different than visiting for a week! Also, the friends I made in Venezuela and the views I enjoyed in Bolivia were both unforgettable. The hardest part of the experience was being alone for so long--and away from home! But even that was extremely worthwhile: I learned incredible things about myself and, more importantly, I learned the pleasures of traveling alone. The research I did under the Barry Fellowship reinforced my interest and passion for Latin American politics. I returned from my summer more interested than ever in the region, and the classes I chose during sophomore year are a reflection of that.

Recommendations for students applying to the Barry Fellowship:
Use the resources at Yale to build contacts where you're going! It shows interest, motivation, pro-activeness, and, most of all, it helps you build a coherent research plan. You don't have to have every single detail planned out before you leave, but having a few certain contact, to whom you've spoke beforehand, is key. These people will most probably grant you access to local information once you get there.

The benefit of working in developing countries:
I believe that working in developing countries is an incredible experience because it puts you in direct contact with means of existences so distant from your own that you would have never encountered elsewhere in developed nations. Developed nations also offer unique and undeniably unforgettable experiences, but the realization of how much diversity there is in the world - in terms of income, culture, health, lifestyle, etc. - can only be achieved when one lives in the chaos that usually decribes most developing countries.

Why the Barry Fellowship is unique:
I am extremely grateful for being a Barry Fellow because, thanks to the Barry family, us fellows are more than a randomly chose group of students: we are part of a very diverse and interesting family. Our regular dinners are excellent opportunities to learn all about the amazing things our peers are doing and to share our experiences. Also, the Barry fellowship offers an ongoing support that is not always present in other fellowships at Yale. Once you have received a grant, Mr. Barry and the fellowship's office are extremely helpful with anything from getting extra funding to discussing possibilities for your future. They provide a most-welcomed and comforting support!