Alenandra Fochios

2018 Newman Family Scholarship Recipient

My name is Alexandra Fochios and I am originally from New York City. My family and I moved to Madison, Wisconsin after middle school,so I attended and graduated from Edgewood High School in 2015.

Being brought up in a bilingual and bicultural household has had a profound influence over my life. As a child, my father’s parents sent me to Greek school, where I spent afternoons learning the Greek language, singing songs, and attending Greek dance classes. On my mother’s side, I inherited an ear for a different language — Japanese. This was exclusively spoken in her Hawaiian household, where she was raised. I have spent a great deal of time in Kauai with my extended family, learning about their heritage and culture.

With this sort of background rooted in cultural and international differences, I knew that I wanted my studies at UW–Madison to reflect this part of my life. It was actually International Studies 101 which I took in the fall of my freshman year that inspired me to pursue this academic interest more seriously. Throughout my time at UW, I have utilized the International Studies major, the professors within it, and their courses in order to expand my knowledge about the global community that we live in.

It is because of these unique classes and professors that my desire to learn about this field has increased. As a result, last summer I decided to study abroad in Fez, Morocco in order to have a better understanding about Moroccan culture, language, and the North African region more broadly. I am extremely grateful for this experience because it was an opportunity that not only enriched my own academic and language skills but also allowed me to learn about other people’s perspectives on their society and the world.

Looking to the future, I know that the skills and experiences that I have gained thanks to the International Studies major will continue to influence me. As of right now, after I graduate in the Spring of 2019, I plan on attending law school. Although none of my plans are set in stone, I hope to one day pursue a career where I can incorporate my passion for International Studies.