"The Russian Flagship Program not only provided me with a superior understanding of Russian and international experiences that I could never have dreamed of, but also a community. While figuring out my path as a college student, I always had people who I could rely on for advice [and] support."
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Russian and Spanish, Certificate in Development Economics
Graduation Year: 2022
Current Employer and Job Title: Research Analyst at the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
What were your reasons for studying Russian as an undergraduate?
Part of my family comes from Poland, so I’ve always had an interest in Slavic languages and cultures. However, I chose to study Russian over Polish because I was a bit of a history nerd and wanted to learn more Russia, the Soviet Union, and the tense relations between our countries.
How did your experiences in the Russian Flagship contribute to your overall undergraduate experience? Was there a particularly memorable experience you would like to share?
The Russian Flagship Program not only provided me with a superior understanding of Russian and international experiences that I could never have dreamed of, but also a community. While figuring out my path as a college student, I always had people who I could rely on for advice, support, and the occasional Soviet film party. I got to travel to a great many places through the Flagship program, but I will never forget the first “Russkiy Kostyor” we put on during my Summer intensive program. We rented a campfire pit near Picnic Point and had Russian and American snacks while our instructors taught us vocabulary related to smores and other campfire snacks.
What impact did the Russian Flagship program have on your life post-graduation: academic path, career trajectory, skills developed, or anything else?
While my current career path has taken me away from Russian, the Flagship program has taught me resilience and provided me with a guiding star for my future endeavors.
What advice would you give to current Russian Flagship students?
Let your curiosity guide you! You never know it, but if you follow your interests and become well versed in them, that knowledge can prove to be extremely valuable.