Marie (Mary) Nzeyimana graduated from the STEP College-Prep Program in 2018. Now a senior at Bowdoin College, she thought she’d be moving to Boston after graduation, but things have changed.
A few weeks ago, Mary was awarded the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, or The Watson for short, gives “imaginative and bold graduating college seniors in any discipline” funds for a year to travel the globe and gather independent, international research on their topic of interest. This year's class of fellows welcomed 42 students, including Mary, who will be pursuing her project titled “The Role of Women: Community, Womanhood, and Caretaking”.
As of August 1, Mary will set out on a year-long life-changing adventure, traveling and learning in Rwanda, Tanzania, India, and the United Kingdom. For Mary, it’s a dream come true. And a shining example of what hard work during high school and college can lead to.
Here’s what Mary has to say about making this spark of an idea, finally, a reality.
Why are you interested in studying women's role within caregiving?
My experience with caretaking is from my lived-in experience taking care of my family, particularly my mom. After my family immigrated to the U.S., being the only English speaker in my family, I became my mother’s translator and caretaker at 11 years old. I was also adjusting to my new life in America. I learned how to read, write, and speak English at 11 years old, because I had never attended school full-time before coming to the U.S.. Moreover, It was my responsibility to keep myself in school, because my mother did not understand the educational system and could not understand the paperwork. It was up to me to make sure I had a good future for not only myself, but also for my family.
My Watson project was inspired by my personal story and my future career goals.
"I hope to immerse myself completely into my chosen organizations and the work they do to empower, advocate for, and educate women.”
What do you hope to learn during your year-abroad adventure?
All in all, I want to observe and learn how women around the world are taking care of themselves, while being responsible for the care of others. And in doing this, I will be gaining a deeper understanding of my own story, and how to advocate for women in my future career as a physician.
"My experiences growing up in Africa, especially in the refugee camp, have set the foundation for my interest in health care accessibility and delivery."
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What do you hope to do with your newly gained knowledge after the Watson program/travel?
I will gain invaluable insight and wisdom into the lives of women across three different continents and various cultures. This wisdom will inform the rest of my life as I pursue a career of service and advocacy for women domestically and internationally as a physician, public health worker, and philanthropist.
This will be a year of exploring the different intersectional identities that define a person based on their past, present and future experiences.
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In case other STEP scholars are curious, what did you have to do to apply?
Only students enrolled in the 42 partner schools with the Watson Foundation are eligible to apply. My institution, Bowdoin College, is one of these schools. I began crafting my application the summer before my senior year, with the help of the Bowdoin fellowship office and a past Watson fellow from my school.
How can people follow your journey (if at all)?
I may create a blog to document my journey. I promise to share a link, if I do. But I want to enjoy my Watson year and fully immerse myself in the experience outside of social media. I am overdue for a social media break.