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Essay Competition

As part of TAMIU's Reading the Globe experience, students will have the opportunity to compete for a paid educational adventure to a special RTG location during winter or spring break.

This study abroad trip allows students to continue to connect the Common Read in an international experience. Students will visit historical sites, enjoy educational lectures by local instructors, and may participate in community engagement activities.

Fall 2024 Essay Competition: Passport information will be required by October 21. Start preparing your passport. The U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs has passport processing time to be 6-8 weeks.

Brazil Lecture

Qualifications

Must be enrolled in UNIV 1201*

Must be in good academic standing at the end of Fall 2024

Must be 18 years old before time of departure

Must have student conduct holds/issues cleared

Early College High School and Staggs Academy of International and STEM Studies students are eligible to participate in the RTG Program. If selected to go on the RTG trip, students MUST be 18 years old at the time of departure and have taken UNIV 1201 during the Fall semester. If students are not 18 years of age and are selected to go on the trip, they may take the RTG trip the following year when they are 18 years old.

If you are a student with a disability, please make sure you have registered with Disabilities Services for Students. For the essay testing dates, you can notify the staff at the check-in of your accommodations.

  • Essay prompt instructions, please read carefully: 
    • Select ONE prompt you want to address in your essay. Make sure you fully understand the prompts and what it is asking before you report to the Testing Center to compose your essay. 

      • Prompt 1: “It’s over, Carmencita. The resistance has dissolved. We are each to go our own way now. We tried hard, but it’s time to state the obvious: we lost. Maybe in ten, twenty, a hundred or a thousand years, the society we dream of will come to be. But we’ve lost this round” (264).
        Despite the failure of the resistance, both Carmen and Alejandro were “proud that [their] little grain of sand contributed to the changes taking place” (272). How do you think Carmen was able to grow in her time as revolutionary despite the many failures and obstacles? Discuss a time that you grew from a failure. How were you able to move forward from failure and be proud of the changes you made?

      • Prompt 2: Carmen meets several people who are part of the resistance, including Soledad, Rulo, and Trinidad. Each has specific tasks or roles that they must carry out in order for the resistance to accomplish their goals. Find examples in the book of when Carmen formed connections with one or more resistance members that stood out and explain why. Next, provide an example during your time at TAMIU in which you have connected with your peers, professors, or other TAMIU members and how has that connection(s) motivated you to earn your degree.

      • Prompt 3: Carmen recounts, "Go back there, I thought...Just turn around. Go back to the house where the Terror doesn’t exist. But that wasn’t what I’d signed on for" (235).
        Provide examples from the text that show how despite the presence of Terror in her life, Carmen continued to persist. What lessons can we learn from how her growing feelings of empowerment helped shape her choices? Next, describe a moment where you practiced self-empowerment, overcoming fear or doubt to get closer to achieving a personal goal.

      • You have eight days to brainstorm and plan your essay. Visit writing tutors, speak with UC faculty, peer mentors, etc. for brainstorming.   
  • Visit the Testing Center to compose RTG essay on selected dates below (be prepared to show or provide your A#):  
    • Friday, October 4: 2 – 6 pm  
    • Saturday, October 5: 9 am – 6 pm  
    • Sunday, October 6: 11 am – 6 pm 
  • You are allowed to bring ONE 5 x 8 index card (front and back) with any quotes and information you may want to include in their essay. You MAY NOT write the entire essay on the index card; UC faculty will review index cards.
  • You will have a 3-hour limit to write your essay within the allocated times.  

Each essay that meets the submission guidelines will be read by the Essay Committee. The top 25 essays will be selected; these students will be scheduled for an interview. Then, a selected number of students will be chosen to go on the trip. A list of ranked alternates will be in place should some of the chosen students not be able to travel.

Essays that will be selected should be critical, thoughtful responses. It is expected essays will be well-written with limited errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.

Note: If you transfer your sophomore year, you must reimburse the University the full cost of the trip. Students selected to go on the trip become RTG Ambassadors are expected to “pay-it-forward” with university service such as participating in events promoting RTG, fundraising, and planning events the following year after the trip.

  • Length:
    • 1000 - 1500 words
    • Format: MS Word Document
    • Double space
    • Font: Times New Roman 12
  • All pages must include your TAMIU ID# in the header only. No title page will be needed.

NOTE: Any essay that does not meet these guidelines will be disqualified. If you have questions, please speak with UC faculty who will be proctoring the contest before you submit.

RTG Trip & Travel Requirements

Country: Chile

Dates: December 2024 - January 2025

  • Must have a passport that is valid for at least six months AFTER return date
  • Visa – fee to be paid by student
  • Immunizations as required
  • Money for meals and personal expenses

Contact Us

Reading the Globe

Phone icon956-326-2134

Envelope iconreadingtheglobe@tamiu.edu

5201 University Boulevard, Laredo, TX 78041