Educational Exchange
Undergraduate Kate Alonso combines languages, philosophy to prepare for a career in international human rights advocacy
Although conversing in Indonesian is now second-nature for Kate Alonso, it was just a few months ago that her vocabulary was limited to hello, goodbye, please, and thank you in the language, also known as Bahasa Indonesia.
The 糖心vlog senior has been abroad studying in Malang, Indonesia, since August where she is pursuing her passion for international human rights through a Boren Scholarship, a nationally competitive language opportunity administered by the National Security Education Program to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity.
Boren Awards, named for former Oklahoma governor and three-term senator David L. Boren, provide up to $25,000 for U.S. undergrads to study languages not commonly taught and in regions that tend to be omitted from traditional study-abroad programs.
Alonso is earning dual degrees in philosophy, under the , and international affairs in the with a minor in French from the .
鈥淚鈥檓 able to use my philosophy background and apply ethics to how international human rights treaties, refugee treaties and international laws are created,鈥 she said. 鈥淯tilizing applicable ethics on an international scale allows us to figure out what benefits the international community the most, not just from one perspective.鈥
Alonso鈥檚 range of studies allows her to investigate these needs across various perspectives. Before heading to Indonesia, she completed FSU's Global Citizenship Certificate 鈥 which prepares individuals for the global workforce 鈥 and CGE鈥檚 program where she mentored exchange students as they became acclimated to life at FSU. Alonso has also studied Arabic and completed the U.S. Intelligence Certificate with the .
鈥Although pursuing what you love isn鈥檛 always easy, your love for it makes all the difference. I鈥檓 grateful and excited to continue doing what I love 鈥 helping people and crossing multicultural bridges...鈥
鈥 Kate Alonso
鈥淪eeing the international framework in our Tallahassee community was amazing,鈥 she said. 鈥淔SU has so many international students and intercultural and culturally diverse communities on campus. You can experience so many facets of the world without leaving Leon County.鈥
Thanks to courses and CGE programs, Alonso felt she was well-prepared for international study and, with help from Jesse Wieland, associate director of FSU鈥檚 , she secured funding to support her study abroad.
鈥淜ate is one of the most thoughtful, kind, and creative applicants I鈥檝e worked with in nearly 10 years with ONF,鈥 Wieland said. 鈥淪he has a genuine passion to become the type of ambassador America needs abroad 鈥 one that is patient, tactful and people-oriented.鈥
Alonso鈥檚 current trip isn鈥檛 her first to Indonesia 鈥 she spent summer 2023 interning with Asia Justice and Rights, a human-rights organization in Jakarta, supported by a fellowship grant from FSU鈥檚 . Hoping to return to Indonesia upon that internship鈥檚 completion, Alonso applied for the Boren Scholarship through the Regional Flagship Languages Initiative, a program separate from the Boren Awards that allows Boren applicants to study abroad in specific regions.
鈥淲orking on human-rights research solidified my interest in international human rights,鈥 Alonso said. 鈥淎lthough Southeast Asia has always been at the forefront of my interests, it鈥檚 difficult to find some information in the U.S. After I learned about the Southeast Asian Flagship Languages Initiative program, I had to apply.鈥
Alonso began the RFLI program in summer 2024 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and took two months of Bahasa Indonesia language classes before traveling more than 9,000 miles to live with a host family and study at the State University of Malang.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in the classroom five days a week from 8 a.m. to noon. From 2-4 p.m., we have extracurricular classes, culture classes and meetings with language partners 鈥 it鈥檚 super immersive,鈥 Alonso said. 鈥淚 originally stumbled over my words, but now I鈥檓 comfortable holding conversations covering anything from personal interests to current news.鈥
While abroad, Alonso earned a scholarship extension to become an Independent Boren Scholar and design her own spring studies program after completing the predesigned flagship program. She plans to continue studying at the State University of Malang through April 2025 and then has her eyes set on graduate school and a career in international relations.
鈥淚鈥檓 so thankful my love of languages has brought me here, and I know it鈥檚 not where my love will stop,鈥 Alonso said. 鈥淎lthough pursuing what you love isn鈥檛 always easy, your love for it makes all the difference. I鈥檓 grateful and excited to continue doing what I love 鈥 helping people and crossing multicultural bridges 鈥 when I leave Malang.鈥
Carly Nelson is an FSU student pursuing a bachelor's in advertising with plans to graduate in Summer 2025.