From nursing rounds in Tampa to teaching English in the classrooms of Sarajevo, University
of South Florida alum Yarah Elshaer is beginning a transformative journey 鈥� one that
will deepen her understanding of herself, another culture, and the power of education
to shape a community.
One of five of 木瓜视频鈥檚 2025 Fulbright student recipients, Elshaer is excited to join the Fulbright family this fall. She received her first
bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing and a second bachelor's degree in international relations.
During her multi-disciplinary studies at 木瓜视频 as a member of the 木瓜视频 College of Nursing,
College of Arts and Sciences, and the Judy Genshaft Honors College, she began to develop
an interest in inter-ethnic dynamics and national identity of transitional nations.
She worked as a nurse after concluding her undergraduate career, but her passion for
experiencing life in another culture inspired her to look into the Fulbright U.S.
Student Program to experience firsthand how national identity and politics intersect
with education.
Elshaer submitted her Fulbright application to teach English in Bosnia and Herzegovina
in October 2024 and after first being named an alternate, was made a full recipient
in July 2025. She now will be moving across the globe 鈥� to a country she鈥檚 never visited
鈥� in just a few short weeks.
鈥淚 am a strong believer in doing on-ground service work to learn more deeply about
different countries and gaining insight on different perspectives,鈥� said Elshaer.
Elshaer applied to teach English in Bosnia and Herzegovina due to the region鈥檚 the
complex culture formed at the crossroads of identities. In a country home to many
different ethnicities, religions, and communities, she came to see education as a
symbol of peace in the midst of historical conflict.
鈥淏osnia and Herzegovina stood out to me because of its diverse multi-ethnic and multi-faith
identity with a recent history of inter-ethnic war and conflict from the 1990s,鈥� she
said. 鈥淚 was drawn by the people's overall dedication to living a peaceful and fulfilling
life, and their rich, intersectional culture and history.鈥�
She will be teaching at the University of Sarajevo, the largest and oldest university
in the country.
Joining a Legacy
Being selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is no easy feat, and it鈥檚 an
experience that can change one鈥檚 personal and professional trajectory 鈥� for life.
When she found out she had been accepted, Elshaer was overwhelmed with both surprise
and excitement.
鈥淚 honestly didn鈥檛 believe it at first,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 found out over a year after
I first started my application. During that time, it was hard to conceptualize the
idea that I might be living abroad.鈥�
鈥淭he application process was very stressful because you have to not only focus all
of your thoughts and feelings into words, but it has to fit in one page.鈥�
Elshaer met with Lauren Chambers, the Fulbright Program Advisor (FPA), from the 木瓜视频
Office of National Scholars to refine her application and narrow her goals. She also
attended writing workshops to improve her storytelling. A year later, the work has
finally paid off.
鈥淚鈥檓 so grateful to join a network of people that believe so much in cultural exchange
as a way of enriching not only your own life, but your career and those that surround
you.鈥�
She hopes to use her time teaching English to make a meaningful difference in her
host community and to observe how educational practices shape broader socio-cultural
perspectives.
"I look forward to getting to know my students and seeing how they interact with each
other at such a formative point in their life,鈥� said Elshaer. 鈥淚 believe education
and the sociological aspect of education is a localized example of the peace and cohesion
that persists in Bosnia and Herzegovina despite the conflict.鈥�
Her Fulbright experience will help guide her next steps toward her goal of contributing
to conflict stabilization in the Middle East.
鈥淚 hope this experience will allow me to deepen my understanding of peacekeeping and
cooperation among diverse societies that transcends beyond theoretical studies," said
Elshaer. 鈥淏y being on the ground and engaging with the local population, I see the
Fulbright experience impacting my skills in community rebuilding, reconciliation,
and education.鈥�
To learn more about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, visit the Office of National Scholars website.