I graduated with a government-Spanish major in 1991. After Skidmore, I received
a M.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Latin American and Iberian
Studies in December 1992. I currently use Spanish everyday in my job. I am a bilingual
claims representative for the Social Security Administration. I specialize in
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) which is a federal program for disabled individuals
with limited income and resources. I help the Spanish-speaking population of Rochester,
New York file SSI claims and update their cases once they are receiving SSI. My
Spanish and government studies at Skidmore not only allowed me to learn how to
communicate with the Hispanic population, it also made me aware of the cultural
and historical aspects of their lives. The people I work with are so grateful
for this knowledge and often thank me after I help them.