"Skills I learned during the Flagship program have played a vital part in my life post-graduation. During study abroad, there are moments when you are pulled out of your comfort zone and need to find a way to quickly navigate the situation. These moments of discomfort continue after graduation, but I have felt I can approach them with a greater sense of ease and confidence having had the experience abroad."
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Political Science and Russian
Graduation Year: 2021
Current Employer and Job Title: Senior Consulting Analyst at Accenture
What were your reasons for studying Russian as an undergraduate?
From a young age I always had an interest in learning languages and had already begun some Russian study on my own prior to beginning my undergraduate degree. Additionally, I knew others who had gone through the Flagship Program (albeit for different languages at different universities) who greatly enjoyed their experience. It was these two factors that led me to join the Russian Flagship Program at UW-Madison and continue my study of the Russian Language.
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 opportunity to travel abroad with the Flagship Program for extended amounts of time was an experience I will always remember. These experiences abroad greatly enriched my time at UW-Madison. Some of the most memorable experiences included exploring the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan with fellow flagship students and Almaty natives alike. I’ve been able to keep up with my fellow flagship students as well as some of my Kazakh friends I made while abroad. As a matter of fact, I had the pleasure of hosting one of my Kazakh friends here in DC just about days before sitting down to write this!
What impact did the Russian Flagship program have on your life post-graduation: academic path, career trajectory, skills developed, or anything else?
While I do not currently work in a field similar to that of my undergraduate degrees, I would argue that skills I learned during the flagship program have played a vital part in my life post-graduation. During study abroad (the capstone year especially) there are moments when you are pulled out of your comfort zone and need to find a way to quickly navigate the situation. These moments of discomfort continue after graduation of course, but I have felt I can approach them with a greater sense of ease and confidence having had the experience abroad.
What advice would you give to current Russian Flagship students?
I will pass on a piece of advice that I, myself received as a student that I have found invaluable since graduation. That advice is to never say “no” to a new opportunity or assignment – you never know what it might lead to!