Sophie Bergan, once a student content within the confines of a comfort zone, dared to peer beyond the horizon of her known accomplishments, setting her sights on a challenge that many would find daunting, winning a Fulbright scholarship. The Ankeny, Iowa native, who previously excelled as a high school student, carried her high-achieving spirit to the Korbel School of International Studies, according to the University of Denver. She majored in International Studies with a focus on global health and development while also juggling minors in Spanish, leadership studies, and sustainability.
It was Bergan's junior year abroad that pried open the doors to uncharted territories, she recounted her experiences in Spain and Ecuador shook the foundation of her beliefs, exposed her to new cultures, and imbued her life with a newfound conviction that would eventually lead her voice to resonate within the parameters of a successful Fulbright application. "You really realize how big the world is," said Bergan, as per the University of Denver. Her tenure overseas fostered her growth and emboldened her to leave behind the safety of a one-dimensional life plan in pursuit of something greater. Her pursuit was met with rigorous preparation, she crafted between 20 and 30 drafts of her essay, an endeavor that became her world, a process to which she surrendered completely in a bid of total immersion so that she might perfect her application.
The pivotal turn came when Bergan, rejecting a more traditional approach to her statement, embraced a unique culinary recipe format that reflected her love for cooking and desire to transform global food systems for the betterment of climate change and human health. "Representing myself by talking about food couldn't have been more 'me,'" "I thought, Fulbright might not really like this, but I love it, and so this is what I'm going to submit—and it worked out," she explained in reflection of her strategy, as obtained by the University of Denver.
Today, Bergan thrives in Madrid, not only teaching English to adolescents but also continuing her education with a master's degree in Global Environmental Sustainability coupled with a certificate in Global Health Affairs from DU; her life abroad is punctuated by participation in local expat running clubs, the pursuit of the city's best pastries, and various extracurricular activities such as leading her school's Model United Nations program. Despite her successes and the life she has built, she maintains a humble demeanor, perceiving each day as a chance to further step out of her comfort zone and believe in her ability to adapt and overcome the challenges that come with navigating foreign landscapes.
