Caitlyn Aldersea
Undergraduate: University of Denver
Major: International Studies and Public Policy
Minor: Leadership Studies
Recommended Book: "Code Name Verity" – Elizabeth Wein
Heartfelt and eloquent historical fiction novel, recalls the friendship between two young women during World War Two and the hardships faced during the conflict.
Caitlyn Aldersea started at University of Denver in the fall of 2019. She plans to double major in International Studies and Public Policy, with a minor in Leadership Studies.
As a student at Lincoln, Caitlyn feels that her teacher Hanisi Acceta had the most positive impact on her and her success. Ms. Acceta welcomed Caitlyn into the leadership program when she was a shy freshman. Under her mentorship, Caitlyn blossomed into a more mature, outgoing, and inclusive leader. Caitlyn finds Ms. Acceta’s selflessness to be truly inspiring, and she aspires to achieve the same leadership style in her own life.
Outside of school, Caitlyn found that Student Government was her favorite activity. While the work was difficultat times, the results were well worth the stress. Caitlyn will be forever grateful for the privilege of representing the student body as the first female ASB Co-President. In this role, Caitlyn had to represent diverse opinions, ideas and experiences which was no easy feat. Running a majority of the school’s events was a source of excitement for Caitlyn, especially since she was living a double life as ASB Co-President and the Lincoln Cardinal Mascot!
Caitlyn is most proud of her ability to speak Arabic. She found a passion for learning the language when she was writing her IB Extended Essay, in which she compared the UN reaction to the alleged use of chemical weapons from the Iran-Iraq War to the Syrian Civil War. Since she sees a future in Middle Eastern affairs and international politics, she decided she needed to learn how to speak Arabic, a challenging feat for any native english speaker. She now feels like she could navigate an Arabic-speaking country with basic language.
In early 2020, Caitlyn was in the final selection process for the Critical Language Scholarship funded by the U.S. State Department. If selected, she would be able to study Arabic fully funded for 10 weeks in Amman, Jordan with 20 hours a classroom time a week intertwined with cultural exchange events with students from all over Jordan and the U.S.
Good luck, Caitlyn, we can’t wait to see what you accomplish!