Samantha Marie Marcoux
2013 English Teaching Assistant Program
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The Power of Belonging: My Fulbright Journey 

“Teacher,” the 12 year-old girl said, breathless from running around the gym, her face lit with the kind of joy you can’t fake. “This is the best!” 

I handed her a cup of water, smiling. “You like this game? It’s one of my favorites too.” 

She shook her head, still smiling, then paused. “No, not the game. Yes, the game is fun. But here, this camp… here, I am just Korean. I am just me. No one knows or cares that I’m from North Korea. I feel so free and happy. I have so many new friends.” 

She took one last sip of water and ran back to her new friends, her laughter echoing through the gym. That moment at the Fulbright English Program (FEP)—a two-week English immersion program for students from across Korea—has stayed with me ever since. 

At FEP, we worked tirelessly to create an environment where students could thrive. With a diverse team of counselors, junior counselors, teachers, and directors from both Korea and the United States, we built a space where young people could let go of labels and just be themselves. We didn’t just teach English; we fostered connection, belonging, and joy. The memory of that student’s simple yet profound words continues to inspire me in my work to this day. 

Years before that moment, I was a new ETA (English Teaching Assistant), just beginning to find my way. Teaching high school students was as challenging as it was rewarding, but it quickly became clear that my role was more than teaching grammar or vocabulary—it was about helping students discover their potential and embrace their unique stories. 

I remember one student in particular, a first-year high schooler on my debate team. After months of training for a citywide English debate competition, my students gave their all and made it to the final rounds. But when they were knocked out just before the semifinals, she came to me with tears in her eyes and said, “Teacher, I’m sorry we didn’t win.” 

I bent to meet her gaze and asked softly in Korean, “Did you do your best? And did you have fun?” 

She hesitated, then nodded, tears still pooling in her eyes and streaming down her face. 

“Then that’s all that matters,” I told her. “I’m so proud of you.” 

Three years later, at her graduation, she gave a speech and credited those words as some of the best advice she’d ever received. She carried that lesson with her into adulthood, and today, she is a high school English teacher herself. Her class motto? “Try your best and have fun. That’s enough.”  

Seeing the way my students grow and carry these lessons forward fills me with hope for the future. 

As my time with Fulbright evolved, I had the incredible opportunity to co-pilot Fulbright Korea’s University Initiative at Jungwon University. Working with undergraduate students helped me realize my calling to teach and mentor young adults. My co-workers during this program became like family, and together we created an environment where students could flourish. Watching them grow into confident individuals, exploring their identities and their place in the world, was a privilege. 

The program reminded me that education isn’t just about transferring knowledge—it’s about empowering others to connect with their strengths, their stories, and their dreams. Through our shared efforts, I saw firsthand how educational exchanges have the power to shape lives and communities. 

And yet, all these moments—these transformative experiences—come back to something I learned on my very first day of Fulbright orientation. Sitting in that marble-walled room at Jungwon University, overwhelmed by the daunting task ahead of me, I remember the director addressing our group with a piece of advice that became my north star: 

“Love your students, and everything else will fall into place.” 

Those words became my foundation. From that moment on, I made it my mission to create spaces where my students could connect, explore the world, and find their place within it. I wanted to empower them to see the strength in their stories and help them tell those stories with courage and conviction. 

Looking back, my Fulbright experience taught me so much more than I could ever have imagined. It showed me the importance of belonging, the beauty of human connection, and the power of educational exchange. It gave me my purpose as an educator and my voice as a storyteller. 

Through Fulbright, I’ve had the honor of watching students bloom into the best versions of themselves, building bridges across cultural and generational divides and shaping a brighter future. These exchanges are a testament to what is possible when we invest in intercultural understanding and collaboration. 

To Fulbright Korea and the people who make it all possible: thank you. Your work changes lives, fosters peace, and builds a global community rooted in empathy and shared purpose. I will forever be grateful for the way it shaped my life and for the hope it continues to inspire in each new Fulbright cohort. Together, let’s keep creating spaces where the next generations can connect, grow, and thrive. Because in the end, when we love and learn together, everything else truly does fall into place.