Local Fulbright scholar readies for Rwanda assignment
By Patricia Bogumil
Editor
While most people reading this article would have a hard time finding Rwanda on a map of Africa, there are exceptions.
Bethany Schowengerdt, 22, of Waterford, knows quite a bit about Kicukiro College of Technology in Kigali, Rwanda, where she will work this fall as an English teaching assistant/lecturer.
She is one of only two Americans who have been selected for Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships for 2012-2013.
Schowengerdt describes via email her path to the Fulbright as a sort of “Choose Your Own Adventure” novel that started out early – first by taking French and later learning a lot about Africa in social studies class at Fox River Middle School.
“No, I was not happy about having to memorize all the countries and capitals in seventh grade,” she said, “although I sure am now!”
Schowengerdt’s family moved to Waterford when she was in the fourth grade.
Her parents, Ron and Debra, have lived in many other states besides Wisconsin, she said. She and her sister, Robyn, 20, are native Carolinians.
Schowengerdt attended Waterford schools until high school, when she began commuting to Martin Luther High School in Greendale, from which she graduated in 2008.
That decision was personal as well as educational, she said.
Martin Luther’s curriculum incorporates theology classes in addition to college prep and electives, all of which were a good fit for a future career path that includes intense periods of international travel, she explained.
“My parents and I thought it essential for me to have a firm grounding in the Christian faith,” she said.
Her schooling background prepared Schowengerdt for the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities, from which she graduated in May with majors in Global Studies and French Studies.
Global Studies offers an interdisciplinary curriculum that helps develop critical thinking skills and the ability to reframe issues from the perspective of people in other fields, such as political science, economics and psychology, she said.
French has been essential not only for travel, but also for acquiring second language certification needed in her Rwandan teaching assistantship for the Fulbright.
“I hope French is only the first of other languages I will pick up along the journey,” she said.
She said that ultimately what drew her onto her career path are the interesting people she has encountered along the way – like friends, professors and co-workers, who lead lives of constant learning, even while facing budget cuts, separation from home, political strife and other daunting conditions of their jobs.
In Rwanda, Schowengerdt has been told that she will be leading lectures on English grammar, pronunciation and writing, and probably doing some tutoring or mini-sessions on topics of student interest, like music in English, and American culture.
She expects there will also be a lot of interest in exchanging ideas about teaching with Rwandan teachers, most of whom were educated in the French language and speak Kinyarwanda at home, she said.
“The over-arching goal of the Fulbright program is to promote culture understanding, which I hope to do through people I meet in the workplace, in my neighborhood and elsewhere,” Schowengerdt explained.
Her advice to other young people seeking an interesting path in life is basically to keep your eyes and ears and mind open.
Never discount the future benefits of any experience (like seventh-grade classes), she said, or value too highly what other people are promoting as a “golden ticket” to success.
Because a person never knows where the most common, even insignificant events, in life can lead, Schowengerdt said. Never did she think at the time that working at a local grocery store or just having conversations while riding a city bus could offer any long-term effect on her future.
But it happens.
Also, a good work ethic and firm grounding in Christian faith helped her travel steadily along the path to her Fulbright, Schowengerdt added.
And one last bit of advice:
“Also, when someone tells you before leaving on a trip to pack toilet paper, trust me, they are definitely being serious!”
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest U.S. exchange program, operating in more than 155 countries worldwide.
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