16-year-old senior Ksusha Yeltsova, a student from Yarslavl, Russia, is enrolled in 27 classes this year. Not the 27 credits that students are required to obtain in order to graduate,
but 27 classes. But how? Ksusha is currently balancing the schoolwork from seven classes at FHN with an additional 20 Russian classes so as not to fall behind during her stay.

“In Russian school, it’s tense all the time, like, ‘study, study, study,’” Ksusha said. “And here [there is] photography and art and sculpture and the choice in subjects is much better here.”

Ksusha came to the U.S. during mid-August because of the Alumna Program, which sends Russian students to live in America for one year on full scholarship. Ksusha became interested in this program after a recommendation from one of her teachers back in Russia and her own eagerness for different styles of learning.

“I’m really looking for my own way of learning because some teachers don’t really explain stuff well, so I’m combining everything I learn here and in Russia and I choose the way of learning for myself,” Ksusha said. “That’s what I’ll need when I go to college and [when I get] my job.”

Ksusha has not only gotten to experience American perspective in learning, but also provide her own insight, especially in her U.S. History class with teacher Sean Fowler. While traditionally a freshman course, Ksusha is required to take American History during her visit. According to Fowler, while learning about events in both Russian and American history Ksusha has provided a unique take to the class.

“At times I ask her to teach the class a little something and she has the opportunity to kind of talk to class when we cover Russian history, or we briefly mention it, she’ll talk a little bit about it,” Fowler said. “More than anything else, what she provides is just a different perspective sometimes and that’s advantageous.”

Ksusha has been living with junior Maria Michalski and herfamily while in America. Maria’s family has housed Russian students before in order to introduce them to American culture. At the start of the year, Ksusha considered joining cross country with Maria, but decided against it because of the large amount of Russian work that she must complete.

“Sometimes she just does it all day to try to get it all done,” Maria said. “I don’t know how she does it because I don’t think I would be able to do it.”

Despite the challenges that she faces in balancing the workload from two countries, her trip to America has been a journey in self discovery for Ksusha.

“My classmates in Russia would never experience that [American learning] and I’m so lucky that I have an opportunity to meet such great people, to learn,” Ksusha said. “I know
that this stuff will go with me through my whole life. I will get skills that I will use when I’m 60 and here I became a deeper person. I really like America. America is making me better.”