My name is Isabel Soria Andrade, and I come from Guayaquil, Ecuador. My journey to studying abroad has not been defined by access to elite academic programs, but by persistence, curiosity, and a belief that every drop counts.

My path in high school

I studied in a semi-military school that did not offer international programs such as AP courses. Even though it did offer the IB program, I decided not to take it due to personal reasons. Instead, I pursued a technical high school diploma in accounting. While my academic environment may have lacked certain resources, it was there that I discovered my interest in entrepreneurship and economics. Subjects like accounting and business gave me my first insight into how systems work, and they slowly shaped the direction I wanted to pursue.

I graduated in the top 10%/1000 of my class with a GPA of 9.83/10, but what truly defined my application was everything I pursued beyond the classroom. I was also selected as a Speaker at Astillero de Timoneles, a naval leadership school, and the president of the student council. These experiences in leadership roles helped me to strengthen my public speaking and soft skills.

My Gap year, my best opportunity

Taking a gap year was one of the most important decisions I made. Many people often think that a GAP year is a waste of time or potential. However, I think this is an opportunity to get to know yourself and discover the world that surrounds you. During that time, I participated in Take Action Lab, where I received a full-ride scholarship and had the opportunity to travel to South Africa. There, I spent three months working with agricultural communities through the Surplus People Project, training farmers and developing educational content on agroecology. At first, I was afraid, especially about my English and whether I would fit in. However, within a week, those fears began to disappear. Living with people from different cultures taught me more than any classroom could; it pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow in ways I had never imagined. That experience made me realize that I was ready to study abroad and embrace new challenges.

Beyond that experience, my gap year became a period of growth and initiative. I worked as an English, Spanish, and accounting tutor, supporting over 50 students and helping them improve their performance in these subjects. Additionally, I worked as a tax return preparer, which strengthened my sense of responsibility and connection to my community. At the same time, I continued expanding my social initiative, Patitas, and was accepted into programs such as the Latin American Leadership Academy (LALA). This period allowed me not only to strengthen my skills but also to take ownership of my impact and purpose.

Application process

During my application process, I aimed to present a comprehensive and authentic version of who I am, both academically and personally. I submitted my academic transcripts, which show I ranked in the top 10%/1000 of my class with a 9.83/10 GPA, along with my accounting coursework. I applied test-optional but included my Duolingo English Test score of 130/160 (C1) and my final graduation exam score of 10/10. It is important to highlight that my school wasn’t bilingual; I learned it by myself. Likewise, it wasn’t common to apply to U.S universities. However, I decided to take the challenge and didn’t throw away my shot.

Honors and Awards

1. Take Action Lab Full Ride Scholarship ($24K) 1st Ecuadorian | Selected 50 out of 800+ applicants
2. Yale Young Global Scholars Full Ride Scholarship ($6.5K) Selected 1,800 out of 13,000+ applicants
3. National Award Eco-contest Winner: ECOVELIS Entrepreneurship Finalist: 10/60+ projects
4. ESADE Young & Talented Global Award 2024 Recipient Selected as 1 of only 5 recipients globally
5. Latin American Leadership Academy In-person Camp 60% scholarship | Selected out of 1,500+ applicants

Extracurricular activities

• Co-Founder of Ecovelis: Produced 250 sustainable candles sold in my neighborhood, raising $600. The money and more candles were donated to benefit 30+ vulnerable families during Ecuador’s blackouts.
• ⁠Intern at Surplus People Project: Trained 20 rural farmers in microfinance, marketing, and production processes; collaborated on drafting 5 articles about land; and developed 30+ agroecology educational posts.
• Tax Returns Preparer: Prepared tax returns annually for 15-20 disabled, elderly, and retired community members.
• Led Fundraiser & Event Coordinator: Orchestrated 2 school soccer games, “Clásico del Astillero” and 10+ movie events. Fundraised $5K. Led volunteers to give presents and Christmas cards to kids with cancer at SOLCA.
• Tilting Futures and Yale Young Global Scholars Ambassadors: Hosted 10+ online & in-person informative sessions to guide students on the application process. Reached 500+ Latin American youth from over 10 countries.
• ⁠Intern at Hilton Colon Guayaquil: Scored 10/10 on final strategic project analysis. Collaborated with Excel, purchase orders, and transactions in the SRI.
• ⁠Estudiantes 2000: Published Contributor Selected to author several articles about leadership qualities, personal goals, and international opportunities. Reached 2,000 youth readers across Ecuador.
• ⁠Patitas Initiative: Benefited 100+ stray cats around my neighborhood since age 14. Fed & Provided water daily. Collaborated with stores to get a discount on organic food. Spayed 50 female felines.
• National Scholar & Ambassador, Leadership School: Competencias Lideres, Luis Gerardo Macas Villagomez: Selected as one out of 250 leaders nationwide. Developed soft skills and recruited 600 highschoolers applicants through digital outreach.

Additionally, I submitted letters of recommendation from mentors who knew me in different contexts: my school counselor, my entrepreneurship teacher, and the director of the leadership program Competencias Líderes. Each component of my application was carefully chosen to reflect not only my achievements but also my growth, values, and commitment to creating impact.

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Why Middlebury College?

I was accepted into several universities, including the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Lynn University. Ultimately, I chose Middlebury College, where I plan to major in International Politics and Economics, with a potential minor in Environmental Studies. This college is highly competitive, with an 10.7% acceptance rate. What drew me to Middlebury was its interdisciplinary approach, its global perspective, and the opportunity to study languages and spend time abroad.

My academic interests are deeply connected to real-world issues. I want to understand how economic systems and political decisions affect people’s lives, especially in countries like Ecuador. I hope that, in the future, I can use this knowledge to contribute to meaningful change.

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My personal statement

At the heart of my journey is a phrase my grandmother used to tell me: “Every drop counts.” I built my personal statement around this idea. As a child, I often felt clumsy and incapable, especially when I made mistakes doing simple things, like helping her prepare chocolate bolos (homemade artisanal ice cream that symbolizes Ecuadorian traditions). Over time, I began to internalize those feelings and doubt myself. However, everything changed when I started working on my entrepreneurship projects, particularly making handmade candles. I made many mistakes, nothing looked perfect, but instead of giving up, I chose to see those imperfections differently. I realized that what was imperfect could also be unique, and that mistakes were not failures, but part of the process of creating something meaningful.

“Every drop counts” became more than just a phrase. It became a philosophy. Every mistake, every effort, and every small step I took contributed to my growth and shaped who I am today.

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Advice for future international students

If there is one thing I would tell future students, it is this: try. Taking the first step is often the hardest part, especially when doubt is present. The process is competitive, and it is easy to focus on what could go wrong. But growth comes from action, not from waiting.

Trust that your efforts matter. Trust that even the smallest steps are moving you forward.

Because in the end, every drop truly does count.