Nora Ferm has long been interested in human rights. But her continuing education isn't limited to what she reads in books or gleans from class discussions. As a Latin American studies major, she has complemented the knowledge she's gained in Carleton classrooms with off-campus study, internships, and community service, and has come to understand the importance of connecting classroom study to the real world.

"These experiences have allowed me to draw my own conclusions about issues I've learned about in class," she says.

Nora's classes have provided her with the background knowledge needed to pursue off-campus study in Latin America to see firsthand the effects of policies she has studied. In Ecuador on a School for International Training program, Nora researched Plan Colombia, a U.S. assistance package to Colombia for the "war on drugs," and its consequences for human rights. Through Carleton's Social Justice Movement, she organized a panel to inform fellow students about the plan.

Last spring, Nora was awarded a Carleton Independent Research Fellowship to study a women's medicinal plant cooperative in Costa Rica. "These groups help women challenge the status quo and demand recognition and equality in areas that have been traditionally dominated by men," she says.

Although her international experiences have been transforming, she also values her credit internship with the Resource Center of the Americas in Minneapolis and her work as a translator for members of Northfield's Hispanic immigrant community. "I've realized I don't have to go to another country to learn about human rights issues," she says.

As a volunteer interpreter, Nora uses her Spanish skills to translate at parent-teacher conferences and assist with completing tax forms. She also teaches English as a Second Language, where lessons can range from basic reading to how to pass a driver's license test or make a phone call to inquire about a job. The conversations Nora has had with the people she works with help her understand the issues they face in the U.S. today. "I've heard firsthand about motivations for immigration, the challenge of finding employment in the U.S. and being separated from families, and troubling encounters with discrimination," she says.

Through her experiences at Carleton, Nora has discovered that her passion for activism and policy advocacy can translate into real post-college work. "I now know I can work on human rights issues in a really direct way," she says. She hopes to make a difference in California's Bay Area, where she plans to teach in a bilingual classroom or educate immigrants about their rights.