The fourth-year English Literature major joined the Her Campus UPRM team in 2015 because of her curiosity. del Valle explains: “My curiosity drove me to become a writer, as I’ve written previously in private journals and longed for a publishing experience so I could put my work out there.” She’s currently Senior Editor, “which means I’ll most-likely be editing this interview.”
Being part of Her Campus has helped and taught Fabiola many things. She recounted amazing opportunities for unimaginable things, like being able to attend Her Conference in New York in 2016, where she surrounded herself with hundreds of collegiettes with the same curiosities and passions as her. del Valle “learned to let go of the fear of expressing [her]self through opinion pieces.” By writing for Her Campus, del Valle ventured into a non-academic style of writing while simultaneously finding her own voice and helping other girls find theirs as well.
Crisply honest, Fabiola outlines how her future will most likely be:
“I hope to be doing my Master’s in Modern Literature somewhere in the world. In an ideal world, I’d secretly move to France and leave no trace behind, but I only managed to get through half of my French III course. In a more realistic world, 5 years ahead from today I’d be drinking Chardonnay out of a mug while attempting to study, something I presently do, but I’d look cooler doing so.”
Fabiola offers Colegio’s prepas very fitting advice: “Join associations of your interest, related to your major or not. Hang out like a prepa. Explore everything Mayagüez and the west-side has to offer when it comes to the art scene, coffee shops, beaches, etc. Find people with similar interests. Share your passions and art. Open your mind to new experiences. Be yourself and surround yourself with people who like you for who you are.”
Then, when we finally asked her what would her present self tell her “past self,” she speaks from the wise and experience-ridden heart, “Know your limits when it comes to stress. Don’t do that one thing you did that one time. Write more. Be more honest. You should’ve learned to play the piano and not take your mother’s time & patience for granted. Don’t waste your time overthinking.. or try not to.”