As a child, there is a category of conversation that often cannot be suppressed — what they want to be when they grow up.

Some folks remember this talk with fondness because they really did become an astronaut, firefighter, rock star or veterinarian. Others dig up those classroom drawings and wish they had stuck with the occupation scribbled in crayon.

But according to Ally Golightly, who graduated from Elon University in May 2013, she knew she wanted to be a teacher from the beginning. And as the recent recipient of a Fulbright program English Teaching Assistantship, her dream of teaching overseas is now coming to fruition.

As a nearly permanent fixture in her mother’s elementary school classroom growing up, it seems as though Golightly has always been interested in education.

“My first memories are of helping my mom prepare her classroom,” she said. “Early on I became a pro at the lamination machine and fostered a passion for cutting things out. In high school, and even during breaks in college, I would find myself volunteering at my mom’s school.”

However, the “when I grow up” conversation didn’t go as expected when the time came to start making decisions — Golightly said her mother wanted her to choose a different occupation.

“In high school, I remember my mom trying to convince me to pursue a different profession because she knew firsthand how much work goes into being a teacher and how emotional it can become,” Golightly said.

One thing her mother probably didn’t anticipate was her daughter eventually teaching in South Korea.

Golightly is one of 80 students who qualified for the Fulbright Scholar award, an international exchange program founded in 1946 by Senator J. William Fulbright to create an educational experience for students in the United States and abroad. It has provided almost 310,000 participants with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns, according to the program’s website.

Not only does the opportunity provide a foundation for post-graduate travel to teach in South Korea for a year starting this fall, but Golightly’s acceptance means she will also receive a grant.

The online application for the program required Golightly to acquire three recommendations, a grant proposal and a personal statement.

[quote]Early on I became a pro at the lamination machine and fostered a passion for cutting things out. -- Ally Golightly, Elon alumna '13, on developing a love for teaching[/quote]

Lynda Butler-Storsved, senior lecturer in health and human performance, was one of the faculty members who authored a recommendation.

“Ally was an extremely conscientious student,” Butler-Storsved said. “I have never been more impressed with a student’s application of teaching methodology. She has a genuine passion for educating and a hunger for knowledge that will serve her well.”

To better acquaint herself with the competitive application process ahead, Golightly enrolled in the Competing National and International Fellowship class offered through Elon.

“The class helped me develop a strong application,” she said. “My essays went through at least 10 revisions after receiving feedback from the office of national and international fellowship advisors, peers and members of Elon faculty. After submitting my application, I had an on-campus interview with Elon’s Fulbright Selection Committee.”

Once Elon gold-starred Golightly’s hard work, her application went international.

“I received an email stating that the Institute of International Education (IIE) had recommended me for the Fulbright grant,” she said. “That email meant that the U.S. government was sending my application to be evaluated by the Korean government.”

Having reached the final rounds of the application process, Golightly was counting the days until she received word mid-April — the designated notification date. But she was notified early in January.

“I was completely surprised when I checked my email on a Friday afternoon to see that I had an email from Fulbright,” she said. “I read the first congratulatory sentence and immediately yelled to tell my roommate. Then I made many phone calls and made sure to email the professors who helped me to tell them the good news.”

And with her new opportunity lying in wait ahead of her, it seems Golightly will indeed be a teacher when she grows up.