„I find it appropriate to begin with “wow” – this is the general feeling with which you are stuck from the very first moment of opening your e-mail certifying your Fulbright grant, to the first contact with U.S. academic life and fellow Fulbrighters. You cannot wrap your head around the impact this experience will have on your life until it all becomes too real.

I am just embarking on the UGA academic adventure, yet I can already anticipate what a life-changing experience this will be. First, my Ph.D. dissertation topic is the representation and discourse of women in contemporary politics, which makes it perfect timing for me to be here, focusing on the current U.S. political context. Given the elections, I might just be able to get a firsthand account of a historical moment, marked by Hillary Clinton’s very likely future presidency (thank you, Fulbright!). Second, being a cultural ambassador is both a responsibility and an opportunity to build on my country’s image abroad, while grasping the U.S. culture as much and as deeply as possible. Moreover, two other perks come to mind: giving back, which I can and will do by various community work opportunities, and last but not least, networking, both professionally and personally. It is amazing how, during Gateway Orientations, you can meet people who instantly become your friends; the feeling of belonging to the Fulbright family is so strong, that you feel like you have known your fellow Fulbrighters for your whole life.

Having immersed myself in the U.S. academic life, what struck me most was the impressively high level of professionalism of academics. While auditing two graduate school classes, I found that professors are able to offer guidance and in-depth resources on any research topic; they are committed to walking their students through every research step, in order to make sure that, beyond just obtaining a grade for the class, they help students get published. As for research resources, librarians are these miracle workers who give expert advice on readings one cannot overlook in their research endeavors, on citation systems and styles, or on whatever questions one might have in regard to the meaning of life. U.S. universities also have writing centers, where students and scholars can benefit from expert screening and proofreading of their papers, proper use of academic language, or assistance in developing their ideas into research papers.

Last but not least, mentorship is a concept well-rooted in American academia, and your academic advisor is, genuinely, your main resource, your main facilitator for networking, research progress, and other scholarly activities. I declare myself lucky enough to have found all of these in my mentor, who also brings a significant contribution to my cultural and community adjustment.”