Meaghan (Wilson) Pawelczyk ’20 | Spanish and Sociology major
I am inspired by the power of language and its ability to bring people together.
After studying abroad in South America during her junior year at Saint Anselm College, Meaghan (Wilson) Pawelczyk '20 knew she would return to South America, specifically Peru. Now back in the United States, Pawelczyk is using her language and sociology skills to impact students of her own as a high school guidance counselor in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Pawelczyk got her first glimpse of Peruvian culture while studying abroad during her junior year. As a Spanish major at Saint Anselm, she was drawn to the country for its language, and was captivated by the beautiful landscapes, rich history, and delicious food. As she boarded her plane back to the United States, Pawelczyk knew her next trip to South America would be to Peru.
Pawelczyk received the opportunity to visit Peru for a nine-month stay through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The program awards grants to recent graduates and graduate students for research, study, and teaching programs in over 140 countries around the world.
Pawelczyk taught as an English teaching assistant (ETA) in Peru and worked alongside university students who hoped to become English teachers. She met with groups of students to discuss cross-cultural topics in English, aided in their understanding of the language, and enhanced her knowledge of Peruvian culture.
“I have a passion for education, specifically English education. I am inspired by the power of language and its ability to bring people together,” says Pawelczyk. “I knew I wanted to be an ETA so that I could continue the impact of English education abroad like I had previously done domestically.”
Pawelczyk draws inspiration for this dream from some of her time at the College. As a freshman, she served with English for New Americans, an organization that teaches English to immigrants and refugees in the United States. Pawelczyk also was on the women’s cross-country team at Saint Anselm and longed to connect that aspect of her life to her future endeavors in Peru by starting a running club there.
In her current role as a high school guidance counselor in Virginia, Pawelczyk uses Spanish daily to connect with students and their families in a Fairfax County school comprised of more than 50% Spanish speakers. Inspired by Saint Anselm’s Meelia Center for Community Engagement, she began intentional community-centered initiatives of her own by cocreating a yearly family engagement tailgate and cofounding her school’s first food pantry. In addition to her bachelor’s degree, Pawelczyk earned a Master of Education in Counseling from the University of Massachusetts in Boston.
Adapted from “Traveling Teacher: Meaghan Wilson” by Samantha Jette ‘20 from the Fall/Winter 2022 edition of Portraits.