Alumna Reflects on Rewards of U.S. Fulbright Scholarship Program

Photo by Amy Cosgrove

While serving as a Fulbright Scholar in Thailand, Cosgrove worked with Razorback Athletics to start a football club for students at her school.

Amy Cosgrove knew she wanted to work abroad after graduating from the University of Arkansas in 2015. She just didn't know how to go about it, until she discovered the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program — and just in the nick of time.

"I learned about the Fulbright program three weeks before the application deadline," Cosgrove said. "I didn't think I had a chance of being selected, but DeDe Long, the director of the Office of Study Abroad and International Exchange really encouraged me. By some sort of miracle, it came through."

"Amy was one of five University of Arkansas students selected for the prestigious Fulbright scholarship for the 2015-16 year," Long said. "She had the motivation, the smarts and the heart to make this a life transformative experience. With the competition now open for the 2018-19 application cycle, we hope to be overrun with student interest."

As a Fulbright Scholar, Cosgrove spent a year in Thailand teaching English to 800 students ranging from second graders to high school freshman. Though not easy at first, interacting with the students was the most exciting experience during Cosgrove's time in Thailand.

"It took time to create the kind of rapport I wanted to have with my students," she said. "But, once I started seeing those friendships develop and trust being built, seeing how far we came from when I first got there, seeing kids excited about English and excited to see me…that was really rewarding for me."

Cosgrove helped the students get involved in a variety of after school clubs while she was there. Razorback Athletics even donated footballs to Cosgrove's school, so she could start a football club.

Though the experiences Cosgrove had with her students and with her community were rewarding, she did have some difficulties along the way in adapting to a new environment and different culture.

"It was kind of like a big puzzle," she said. "I had a month of training with the Fulbright program, but when I got to my town all the pieces of the puzzle were thrown at me at the same time. I had to figure out how the pieces fit together as I went along."

Despite the challenges, Cosgrove said being a Fulbright Scholar was one of the best experiences of her life.

"This was easily the most challenging thing I had ever done before, but it was so worth it," she said.

Cosgrove, who holds a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Arkansas, returned to the United States in November 2016. She now works with the Youth Ambassadors program in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Fulbright Program was founded by former University of Arkansas president and U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright. Several informational meetings about the Fulbright Scholarship Program have been scheduled for the month of April.

• Wednesday, April 5, 4 p.m., Gearhart Hall 206
• Tuesday, April 11, 4 p.m., Gearhart Hall 206
• Friday, April 14, noon, Gearhart Hall 206
• Monday, April 17, 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., Gearhart Hall 206
• Tuesday, April 18, noon, Gearhart Hall 206
• Wednesday, April 19, Gearhart Hall 206
• Thursday, April 20, 4 p.m., Gearhart Hall 206
• Friday, April 21, noon, Gearhart Hall 206

Contact the Office of Study Abroad and International Exchange for more information.