Veteran Jerry Scriven learns Spanish for his future grandson
“Middlebury didn’t just teach me Spanish. It gave me connection, courage, and a renewed sense of possibility. Learning has no age limits - and this journey became a gift to myself, my family, and my future grandson.”
Jerry Scriven
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Program: 7-week Immersion
Level: 1
Current: Retired Military Veteran (26-year military career, 10-year corporate career)
What a wonderful opportunity it was to study at the School of Spanish (7-week immersion).
At 57—and after a 26-year military career—it felt incredible to return to a rigorous academic environment and open a new chapter filled with curiosity, challenge, and purpose.
I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the thoughtfully organized classes while learning from caring, dynamic teachers and ambitious students. I wholeheartedly engaged in every aspect of the program.
Some activities felt familiar—dancing, photography, art. Others stretched me, like writing poetry and acting in a theater class. One of the highlights was publishing my poem “Corazón de Vaquero,” which expressed both my cowboy spirit and my desire to grow in bold new directions. I also loved the weekly photography classes, and it was an honor to have one of my images selected for the Exhibition and another chosen as the program’s photo of the summer.
Theater, however, pushed me to my limits. I often sat in rehearsals unable to follow the rapid Spanish swirling around me.
Yet I learned my lines, trusted my classmates, and discovered something beautiful: when vulnerability is shared, it becomes connection.
Our cast became a small family, and during the final performance, the audience’s laughter reminded me how powerful it is simply to try.
My deeper motivation for studying Spanish is personal. After years of living in Texas and traveling full-time, I knew language opened doors—but that truth became even more meaningful when my daughter married a gentleman from Guatemala. When they shared they were hoping to have children, my desire to learn Spanish shifted from intention to purpose. I wanted to be more than a visitor in their world. Just before arriving at Middlebury, I learned I would become a grandfather in February 2026.
My goal for the summer was simple: to speak comfortably with my son-in-law’s family when I visit Guatemala for the first time—and to welcome my grandson into the world in Spanish.
Throughout the program, I practiced personal introductions and phrases that I hoped would show warmth and respect. This Christmas, I’ll be in Guatemala, able to connect more authentically than ever because of Middlebury’s immersive environment.
Middlebury didn’t just teach me Spanish. It gave me connection, courage, and a renewed sense of possibility. It reminded me that growth is exciting, that stepping into the unfamiliar leads to unexpected joy—and that learning has no age limits.
My first-year experience was so transformative that I’m seriously considering returning in 2026 for the next level. This journey has become more than an academic pursuit. It has become a gift—to myself, to my family, and to the little grandson I cannot wait to meet.
Join our School of Spanish 7-week immersion, or one of our graduate programs in summer 2026!
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