Amelia Bronfman ’24 Earns Fulbright to Colombia

Amelia Bronfman ’24 has earned a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Colombia for the 2024-2025 academic year. The geosciences major, who’s from Cambridge, Massachusetts, will be teaching English in Neiva and embarking on a community service project teaching children about the conservation of local birds. “I am excited to meet new people, improve my Spanish, and hone my teaching skills,” she says. “Knowing I had the support of my faculty, friends, and teammates helped me to take chances, dive deeply into learning, and have the confidence to take this next step.”

How did Oberlin influence you to pursue the Fulbright?
Three influential professors at Oberlin—professor of geosciences Zeb Page, associate professor Angie Roles, and associate professor of geosciences Amanda Schmidt—inspired me to study the sciences, believe in myself, and prepared me to apply to the Frontiers Abroad Program in New Zealand. This travel was a transformative learning experience for me in so many ways. I learned new methods and approaches to science as well as the value of cross-cultural exchange in learning. I was hooked! Then these same professors, as well as the amazing Danielle Abdon, encouraged me to apply for the Fulbright.

How does pursuing the Fulbright align with your post-college life and career goals?
I am going in with an open mind to learn as much as I can. That said, spending a year immersed in teaching English to college students and bird science to children aligns with my general goals to engage in environmental science education and to participate in cross-cultural exchange. 

What’s the best advice you’ve received from your Oberlin faculty mentors?
They said it better than these quotes, but I am representing it as best as I can!

Zeb Page told me, “Don’t worry about what other people are doing. If you put your best foot forward, you will succeed,” and “Whatever you choose will be wonderful in its own way.”

Angie Roles: “You should believe in yourself because you have a lot to believe in.”

Amanda Schmidt: “Look around and pay attention to your environment. The world itself will give you its answers.”

Pat Sturges: “Keep breathing and rocking on.”

Activities in which you were involved at Oberlin: Varsity tennis team; arts and sciences orchestra and chamber group (clarinet); Mudd circulation desk; America Reads; junior year abroad in New Zealand through Frontiers Abroad.

If you’re a rising or graduating senior interested in Fulbright, connect with Fellowships & Awards to learn more about pursuing research or an arts project, obtaining a graduate degree, or teaching English in a foreign country of your choice following graduation.