Presidential International Scholar

Paola Cruz '23 understands the healing and therapeutic benefits of writing.

Her smartphone has more than 800 notes that capture the moments she's needed to record thoughts and feelings.

"My mom passed when I was 14," says Cruz, a double major in sociology and anthropology and Spanish from Charlotte, North Carolina. "The only way I could grieve was by writing. It turned my life around. The social worker told me every time I had a dream about my mom to just write it down."

Cruz's mother died from gastric cancer. Her journal entries eventually turned into poems and songs. The writing is inspiring her research as Wofford College's Presidential International Scholar for the 2022-23 academic year.

To view these students click here: https://wofford.meritpages.com/achievements/Presidential-International-Scholar/148519