December 2019 - William Heerdt

Wholly committed to his twice-weekly morning class for the past two years, William, who goes by “Memo” around Tierra, is a gem of a student. Brimming with enthusiasm for learning Spanish, his skills have bloomed during his time studying with us and his steadfast perseverance has paid off. Having retired from his career as a project engineer, he dedicates a significant amount of time outside of class to his inquiry into the Spanish language. A genuinely warm and generous soul, Memo is a thoughtful and sensitive classmate who always seeks to take care of his compañeros. Passionate about effecting positive change, he is deeply concerned about climate change and dreams of using his Spanish skills to connect with hispanic communities and discover solutions together. We are grateful to count Memo as one of our valued students at Tierra and look forward to seeing where his hard work will take him!

Name:  William M. Heerdt or Guillermo or Memo en español
Occupation: Retired Project Engineer
Time Studying at Tierra: 2 years

1) Why are you studying Spanish?
 
"I have always wanted to learn Spanish but work and travel prevented me from focusing for an extended time.  I am studying Spanish now to keep my mind active and perhaps expand my cultural interface opportunities. One thing I hope to do with my Spanish is engage with the Hispanic community to help them learn about and address climate change."

2) What is your favorite part about your experience here at Tierra?

"I enjoy the camaraderie with the other classmates. It feels like family in my group since we are all about the same age with similar life experiences."

3) Can you tell us of a time you have been able to use what you have learned studying here?

"Before retiring I used Spanish to greet and advise hispanic construction workers about safety practices. Now I have used it in some grocery stores to help someone find certain items."

¡Felicidades Memo!