From an Undergraduate Research Fellow at Boise State to a Fulbright Scholar in Serbia
Kelsey Montzka-Boettiger graduated from Boise State in May 2013 with a double major in history and English, with a linguistics emphasis, and a minor in Chinese studies.
Please tell us a bit about the job you are doing now?
Currently I am enrolling in an MA program at the University of Niš, Serbia, pursuing a Master’s program in English, Linguistics. I teach academic writing to 80 students at the faculty, as well as teach a few classes at a private language school in order to offset the cost of my Serbian lessons. As far as refugee assistance goes, I volunteer every other weekend for about four to five days at a time in Preševo, Serbia, which is the primary registration camp for refugees crossing over the Macedonian border.
On October 2nd registration went from being mostly optional to mandatory and I have been assisting the local volunteer organizations that are taking the lead in providing necessary aid (food, water, blankets, clothing, basic medical care) to refugees waiting outside the camp. The queue to enter the camp is often around 10-12 hours long, and during the night, it is crucial that volunteers be present to identify extremely vulnerable refugees and get them either the care they need at the external medic tent or to help them expedite their wait in line through obtaining clearance from UNHCR.
What are you passionate about in your current work?
In Niš, I am passionate about my students. Although it can be a bit of a stressful task to balance my life in Niš with my work in Preševo, seeing how my students are engaging with the material and growing into their own writing styles provides a much needed break from the wear and tear of my work elsewhere.
In regards to assisting refugees, humanly speaking, it is both terrifying and rewarding to think of times where you may have saved someone’s life. Talking to people and hearing their stories, getting to the heart of the matter and seeing an unfiltered truth that isn’t behind a camera is very rewarding too.
What is the most significant thing that has happened to you since graduating?
Well personally, getting married. I married my husband three months after graduation, and he has been a tremendous source of support through our adventures since then. Of course, after that we would be moving to Serbia which we did in fall of 2014. I have had my perspective broadened and feel that I’ve become a more grounded but also more responsive and flexible person. Living somewhere with limited language skills (I am studying Serbian, but I knew none when I first arrived) really made me dependent on the kindness of strangers, and I hope to pass that kindness on to others for the rest of my life.
As an undergraduate student you were a Student Research Initiative fellow. How has your undergraduate research experience helped shape your success?
Last year, I was able to present my SRI project at a local science festival designed to reach high school students inNiš, so there was definitely a direct outcome of the SRI program. As far as shaping my success, the SRI program definitely gave me tremendous experience in presenting, creating presentations, and being meticulous and orderly in my research methodology. These organizational and planning skills and strategies have served me very well in every sphere of activity, from the classroom to the queue of 7,000 tired, hungry people waiting to get into the registration center.
Do you have advice for current Arts & Sciences students involved in research opportunities?
Keep your research topic narrow! Don’t worry if it doesn’t feel world-changing at the moment. You will gain the skills you need to no matter what, and this will affect the rest of your career. Listen to your professors, but don’t be afraid to disagree with them when you do. They trust you and want to hear you work through the problem on your own.
Who were your mentors?
My mentors were Shelton Woods, Michal Temkin Martínez, Melissa Keith, Gail Shuck, and Nick Miller. As a double major, my interests were always interdisciplinary, and I definitely benefitted from mentorship and guidance from many different professors of different subjects, each with their own approach to situations. One thing remains the same for all of them, however, that I trust them and that they were willing and kind to help me.
What opportunities, decisions and events as an undergraduate at Boise State have shaped your professional life?
That’s a massive question!! :) I can probably narrow it down to four main events/decisions that dynamically impacted my life. The first came in my first semester when I decided to take Dr. Shelton Woods’ Eastern Civilization class, Dr. Woods challenged my thinking and my academic skills and really helped me learn the value of study, reflection, and being wrong. His class helped grow my passion for justice.
The second came when I joined the Boise State Writing Center in my Sophomore year. This has impacted me not only in a theoretical, but also in a very practical way. I volunteer as co-director of the writing center in Niš that was founded by a colleague through the American Corner. We are looking to expand the writing center to other Corners throughout the Balkans and give our consultants the opportunity to learn more about writing center theory by attending conferences, so clearly my three-and-a-half years of experience at the Boise State Writing Center has impacted this and given me the skills to contribute to this project. Additionally, I met some of my greatest friends and mentors through the Boise State Writing Center, and it provided a network of loving, brilliant support that I can rely on for the rest of my life.
The third came when Dr. Michal Temkin Martínez invited me to join the linguistics lab. Getting the opportunity to work alongside professors on both academic and mundane tasks has really impacted my vision for how student-professor partnerships can appear. This has formed my teaching style where I rank accessibility above many other features of teaching. Creating community and an open forum for discussion has made my students more willing to experiment and fail as well as be more receptive to guidance as we all learn together.
The fourth was my Fulbright application process. Clearly as I would never have come to Serbia apart from Fulbright, this has had a huge impact on my life; however, I am confident that even if I hadn’t have received the grant, the process of applying for the Fulbright improved not only my writing skills but also pushed me out of my comfort zone. A willingness to keep moving even when you are beyond your realm of comfort has been a very important attitude to have while living abroad, and I am lucky that I was able to cultivate that, through the help of many professors, at Boise State.
Your favorite Boise State memory?
Some of my favorite Boise State memories occurred in the Mary Ellen Ryder Linguistics Lab, when we would stay late for planning meetings for the Boise State Linguistics Association or just study together. Another singular memory comes from a conference that Boise State Writing Center Consultants and I attended, the National Conference on Peer Tutoring Writing in Miami, Florida. It was my first time in Miami and to spend it chatting with colleagues about topics both mundane and academic made it the best it could ever be!