Robbinsdale Area Schools

RSI Alumni Spotlight - Bella Libra

RSI Alumni Spotlight - Bella Libra

In honor of Veteran’s Day, we’d like to shine our Alumni Spotlight on Bella Libra. Thank you, Bella, and thank you to all other RSI alumni who have served our country!

Bella Libra - RSI alumni who now serves in the Marine Corps

When did you attend RSI? 
2004-2010

What do you do for a living? 
I’m a Cryptologic Linguist in the Marine Corps. My job is to monitor, transcribe and translate intercepted target communications, then analyze those communications for use by the Marine Corps.

Where do you live? 
Jacksonville, North Carolina

Share a favorite memory from your time at RSI. 
My favorite memory from RSI is Lo Mejor de Segundo Grado! I still remember all of the songs and sing them to my friends sometimes. It was so much fun dressing up and performing when I was in second grade and then as I got older watching each new second grade class do the same :)

How has your experience at RSI prepared you for your life? 
Learning a language through immersion definitely helped prepare me for learning additional languages - which is how I got my current job!

How are you currently using Spanish? 
When I joined the Marine Corps, they told me they wanted me to learn French! Already knowing Spanish and having experience in learning a foreign language helped a lot. Spanish and French share a lot of similar words and grammar rules, so sometimes when I find a word I don’t know in French I translate it to Spanish, instead of English, and remember it that way!

What advice would you give to current RSI students? 
Whether or not it’s Spanish, you should continue with language through high school and beyond! You never know what doors it might open for you.
 

The “RSI Alumni Spotlight” is usually displayed outside of the office. During Distance Learning, we’d like to recognize our alumni on our website and in our weekly newsletter. If you would like to recommend an RSI alumnus, please send her/his name to Ken_Habel@rdale.org.