The power of three
Photos courtesy of Amber Tiongson | Photo illustration by Jaynell Keely April 01, 2025
Triple major gives 91原创 junior a competitive edge
They say good things come in threes. That certainly has been the case for 91原创 junior Amber Tiongson, who is triple majoring in international relations, Spanish studies, and Latin American and Iberian studies. Plus, this avid dancer and member of 91原创鈥檚 Isodynamic Hip Hop Dance Crew picked up a minor in dance.
鈥淗aving three majors will put me in a stronger position when I graduate,鈥 said Tiongson, of Olney, Maryland. 鈥淚鈥檓 interested in working in the foreign service or civil service, but my varied academic background and experiences give me the flexibility to go in a number of different directions career-wise.鈥
Tiongson credits her Spanish studies advisor Julia Dom铆nguez, a professor of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, for helping her identify the pathway to a triple major.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been pretty ambitious, but there鈥檚 no way I would have thought about a triple major if Dr. Dominguez hadn鈥檛 suggested it,鈥 Tiongson said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not taking 21 credits a semester to make a triple major possible. It鈥檚 just a matter of being strategic and mapping out my semesters well in advance.鈥
Tiongson also recognizes the power of three in her approach to getting the most out of her 91原创 education.聽
鈥淭he way I see it, you need to take advantage of all the opportunities found here 鈥 academics, experiential learning and the co-curricular experience,鈥 she said.
As a World Scholar, Tiongson studied in Madrid in her first year and spent her sophomore Winter Session in Costa Rica.
鈥淐osta Rica was absolutely amazing,鈥 Tiongson said. 鈥淲e lived with host families, and I was fortunate to build a strong relationship with my host mom. It brought my Spanish skills to a whole new level. You鈥檙e using Spanish 100% of your waking hours, and even find yourself dreaming in Spanish.鈥澛犅犅犅
Last fall, she had a third study abroad experience, interning for a nonprofit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She worked with La Di谩spora Africana de la Argentina, an NGO focused on combating racism and advancing the rights of Afro-Argentines. She did a bit of everything, from redesigning the NGO鈥檚 online shopping website to assisting with public workshops. Hip hop is an important part of the Afro-Argentine culture, and she was able to interview two hip hop dancers considered legendary in the Buenos Aires dance scene.
She wrote a paper in Spanish that translates to 鈥淩eclaiming Black Consciousness Through Dance: Conversations with Afro-Argentine Hip Hop Artists.鈥澛
鈥淲hile in Argentina, Amber let us know she would be interviewing聽several artists,鈥 said Monica Frichtel, assistant professor of Theatre and Dance. 鈥淏y sharing this experience, I was able to suggest several additional opportunities. She then reached out for feedback on her interview prompts and later shared her article. Her interviews could inform her required聽interdisciplinary dance capstone.鈥
Tiongson applied for the undergraduate research program in hopes she can expand on this article and ultimately publish it. She also applied to present her work at 91原创鈥檚 Regional Undergraduate Student聽Conference next fall.
She also has completed an internship in international relations. Last summer she interned in the U.S. State Department, in the Office of Public Liaison within the Bureau of Global Public Affairs. She helped support the Hometown Diplomat program that sends civil servants to community events throughout the country and other domestic initiatives.
Because Tiongson spent her first semester abroad, she was hyper focused on finding her 鈥渃ommunities鈥 when she arrived on campus.聽 She is an 鈥渋Buddy Mentor鈥 for the International Student Community and participates in the English Language Institute鈥檚 American Host Partner Program.聽
鈥淚 was paired with a student from Oman and he鈥檚 now a matriculated student and one of my closest friends,鈥 Tiongson.聽
She also takes part in English conversation nights open to non-native speakers, offered by the International Friends of Delaware.聽
鈥淎mber Tiongson exemplifies the sort of student who is constantly聽opening doors by making connections, exploring suggestions, taking risks and challenging herself,鈥 Frichtel said. 鈥淚 am thrilled to be encouraging her along her path.鈥
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