1. Major/year:
I am working toward a M.Ed. in the Cultural Foundations program and will graduate in May 2009.

2. Hometown:
Balkanabat, Turkmenistan

3. Future plans:
After graduating from Kent State University, I would like to join the United Nations and work on projects in the educational field. At the beginning, I would like to start working with the UN in my country, Turkmenistan, and then I would like to travel to different non-developed or developing countries to help with their educational systems.

4. What have you learned about yourself since being at KSU?
I have discovered that I am an independent and mature person, willing to interact with various people from different backgrounds and cultures. KSU has very rich resources in diverse cultures, including many international students and staff from around the globe. This makes me feel like I am home.

5. What made you choose this university/major?
I am an Edmund Muskie Fellowship Program scholar and I was sent to KSU. I am very happy with their choice.

6. What is interesting fact about you?
I take risks that allow me to achieve many things in my life. For example, jumping from an airplane at 14,000 feet high would have never been in my mind a couple of years ago, but I did it and I feel proud of myself because I had enough courage to overcome my fear.

7. What is one thing you wish you knew before coming to KSU?
I wish I knew that Kent was very cold in the winter and with a motorized society I would have worked on getting a car by cutting back on my travels. With regards to academics, I was ready and expected challenges.

8. What advice would you give other prospective graduate students?
There are two suggestions I would give to students. Live as close as possible to campus since it becomes impossible to walk on main streets when it snows or you need a vehicle. Secondly, students at the graduate level should participate in as many activities as possible. Take advantage of the opportunities to attend conferences and present papers and your career path will be wide open.

9. Anything else you would like to share?
I have attended every possible conference I was able to and became very good at searching for funding after three semesters of experience. At the conferences there is a good chance of meeting influential people and exchanging contact information. That is what I did and I ended up getting an internship in Honolulu, Hawaii for summer 2008. The internship improved my skills, widened my horizon and allowed me to be internationally and domestically accepted in society, which is a great feeling. Lastly, I had a lot of fun at the ocean and in the Hawaiian mountains. I danced the hula, surfed and made many new friends from around the globe and it is all thanks to the opportunities that Kent State University gave me.