Alyssa Sharp is no stranger to adventure or dreaming big. Whether exploring new ideas with the Advocates for Community Education Scholars program or planning events with the Student Alumni Council, the 2023 English education graduate is all for new experiences and opportunities.

“That’s what you’re in college for,” Sharp said. “To make those dreams come true.”

Her next adventure comes in the form of a nine-month English teaching assistant position in Poland through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Sharp is one of only nine Ohio State students to receive a U.S. Student Fulbright Award this year. The awards, administered by the U.S. Department of State, are awarded to graduating college seniors, graduate students and young professionals to study, research or teach English abroad.

“I’m really, really excited to get to live somewhere new and just have that experience,” Sharp said. “And I’ll be there for nine months, which I feel like it’s a really good amount of time to find a routine and try out different restaurants and feel what it is like to genuinely live there.”

Call to adventure

Sharp’s daring spirit was active long before coming to Ohio State. As a high schooler, she took a three-week trip to Poland to teach English — perhaps a hint of what was to come.

“I loved that experience,” Sharp said. “It was like the first time I realized that people abroad want to learn English, and that’s a job that you could do.”

The Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, native knew she wanted to go into education, but had a big decision to make: where to spend her college years. Though initially intimidated by Ohio State’s size, a last-minute campus and city visit convinced her otherwise.

“Having access to Columbus and being in a city was such a fun part of my undergrad,” Sharp said. “I feel like it really worked out as it was supposed to.”

Meeting the mentor(s)

Once on campus, Sharp jumped headfirst into activities. She participated in the Student Alumni Council, worked with Delight Ministries, served as a writing associate at the Writing Center and as a presidential host for the Office of the President, and was a member of the Advocates for Community Education Scholars program.

Sharp said getting involved in the scholars program — also called ACES — for her first two years was one of the best decisions she made.

“It was, for me, the best way to start college because I was living with people who I had meetings with or classes with, or were in similar majors to me,” Sharp said. “My first semester in college, which I feel is basically very challenging, (was) a lot easier because I became friends with a lot of people on my floor.”

In addition to the social aspect, Sharp said ACES helped her grow as a future educator.

“Through ACES and a lot of my classes that I took, I had a lot more awareness of how to teach students from different backgrounds and how different life experiences affect a child’s ability to learn,” Sharp said.

Halfway through Sharp’s first year, the COVID-19 pandemic put certain experiences — like study abroad trips — on hold. Sharp took the setback as a challenge.

“(My) junior year and senior year, I was like, ‘I have to make (the most of) every opportunity that I have in two years,” Sharp said.

At the end of her third year, Sharp received an email from Ohio State’s Office of International Affairs promoting a summer Fulbright workshop by the Undergraduate Fellowship Office. The free workshop, consisting of multiple Zoom meetings, explored the process of applying for Fulbright awards and assisted participants in writing their applications.

“I was like, ‘This is great. I’ll just do it over the summer and see if I’m interested in actually doing this,’” Sharp said. “And I did that last summer, and I really, really enjoyed it. I truly credit receiving a Fulbright from that because the professor who led it, Professor McDow, he was incredible.”

Crossing the threshold

Sharp submitted her Fulbright application the October of her senior year, was interviewed as a semifinalist in March and became an official award recipient in April. In September, she flew to Warsaw, Poland, and made her way to the city of Nysa to begin the next chapter of her journey.

“I’m just really excited to get to know the people in the community,” Sharp said.

In addition to meeting new people and working with students, Sharp is looking forward to trying new foods and some favorites from her last trip to Poland.

“I’m a big pierogi fan, so I’m really excited for that,” Sharp said. “I remember when I was there in high school, every meal, they had soup. And I remember having pickle soup once, and it was really good. I’m just excited to try out all the food.”

Prospective applicants should take a leap of faith and apply to the Fulbright program, she said.

“It can be a little intimidating to apply to, but don’t let that keep you away from doing it,” Sharp said. “The thing I’ve benefited from was using the resources at Ohio State and … I think that is maybe the best piece of advice I can give to someone.”