by Alli Inglebright
Three students graduating from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications received Fulbright Scholarships to study and work abroad upon graduation. The program offers research, study and teaching opportunities in over 140 countries to recent graduates and graduate students. The program allows them to gain an appreciation for others’ viewpoints through interaction with those in their host country.
Senior journalism student Marcella Mercer will be an English teaching assistant in Malaysia and will be placed in rural schools. Graduate student Mecca Slaughter will be teaching English in Macedonia. Senior broadcasting and advertising and public relations student Azlin Armstrong will be teaching English and American culture in Bulgaria.
The students are looking forward to the opportunity to teach and experience life outside the United States. Slaughter is currently a special education paraeducator at Belmont Elementary in Lincoln and is looking forward to improving her skills as an educator.
"My heart is for students,” Slaughter said. “They are the future, and if I am able to be a positive impact in their life by not only teaching them a language, but lifting their confidence, I have done my job.”
Another factor in Slaughter’s decision to apply was to inspire and encourage other people of color to go for their goals.
“I had never seen a Fulbright scholar that looked like me,” Slaughter said. “I told myself, even if I didn't receive it that I would encourage other young people of color to apply.”
Mercer is interested in working abroad and has always been curious about teaching.
“My mother is also from Malaysia, so I knew enough about the country to feel comfortable applying there,” Mercer said. “I hope to have a better understanding of what it means to be American in the context of the world, as well as how to teach and reach children across all sorts of barriers."
Armstrong’s lifelong love of reading and literature pushed her to apply for the program.
“I’ve been involved in Lincoln Literacy throughout college, where I've taught English to people of all languages and cultures,” Armstrong. “These passions combined made Fulbright’s English Teaching Assistantship the perfect next step after graduation.”
All three students are excited to experience a different culture and learn as much as they can about their host countries. Mercer is especially excited about the Malaysian food she will get to eat and said her mother is jealous.
“I am also excited to experience something new in so many aspects, have the opportunity to teach, and learn a bit more about the place so much of my family is from,” Mercer said.
Armstrong has been doing some research on her host country and is excited to experience life in Bulgaria’s western mountains.
“Experiencing the local life there is what I’m most excited for,” Armstrong said. “They have a festival of roses, a cherry blossom festival, and a hundred other traditions I’m already grateful to be a part of.”
Slaughter is excited about the opportunity to learn about so many different cultures. She said she loves being surrounded by cultures and taking them in.
“I am also excited about learning a new education system,” Slaughter said. “I have been to other countries and have always been interested in how the educational system is set up.”
The students plan to take some key Nebraska values to their host countries. Slaughter is taking a key value she learned from Karen Kassebaum, which is to let your light shine. Kassebaum is the UNL director of staff diversity and inclusion.
Armstrong is thankful for the Nebraska values that have been instilled in her during her time at UNL.
“The open-mindedness and goodwill to others that I’ve learned while at UNL will surely serve me well in Bulgaria,” Armstrong said.
Mercer plans to use kindness to connect with those in her host country.
“I think there's a lot to be said about ‘Nebraska nice’ and how easily openness and warmth translates across cultures,” Mercer said.
