Dzień dobry (Good day)! My name is Maggie Cielesz. I’m 22 years old and a second-generation Polish American from the Chicago area in Illinois. For college, I moseyed my way on down to Waco, Texas, where I attended Baylor University. There, I studied Political Science, Philosophy, and History, worked as an academic mentor and ESL (English as a Second Language) teaching assistant, and even spent a semester abroad at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. A coffee enthusiast, book lover, and vinyl record collector, I’m now trading the Texas two-step for the Polish polka as I begin my Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship at the Ignacy Mościcki State Academy of Applied Sciences in Ciechanów, Poland.
There, I’ll be leading English courses while involving myself in the Polish language, culture, and community. I applied to Fulbright because, during college, I learned just how much I loved to teach and travel! I chose to go to Poland because my grandma is Polish! While she left during WWII, I grew up attending family reunions where plates were piled high with pierogis and Polish sausage, and my grandma and her siblings reminisced in a language I didn’t understand about a place that seemed so far away. Choosing Poland feels like reconnecting with those roots and growing closer to my grandmother. I am excited to share my adventures with you all and cannot wait to hear about your journeys through the school year!
Want to learn how you could be a Fulbright Scholar like me? The Fulbright Program is the United States government's flagship international exchange program. Fulbrighters foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, share knowledge across communities, and improve lives around the world. Learn more by clicking here!
