This month, Fulbright ETA Gurasis Singh found himself learning in real time how much this new chapter depended on a single concept: agency. From settling into a new community to finding his footing in the classroom and helping his students grow, agency was a theme he kept being reminded of.

That idea took on a much deeper meaning through the highlight of his month: mentoring a student for an English speech competition. Drawing on his past experiences as a high school speech captain and studying entrepreneurial management, Gurasis felt a familiar spark come back to life during their late-afternoon coaching sessions. As they worked on speech structure, pacing, and persuasion, he realized her speech was actually entirely about taking initiative, she just didn’t have the word for it yet. Unpacking the concept of agency for her prompted Gurasis to reflect more deeply on how he practiced it himself, and how he hoped to nurture it within his students and host community.

What made the experience so special was her genuine enthusiasm. She memorized her five-minute speech overnight and took every piece of feedback with eagerness and curiosity. Watching her grow was pure joy, and it left Gurasis feeling inspired about the path ahead, and ready to help more of his students discover that same confidence to think, try, and lead intrinsically.

Gurasis Singh is currently teaching at MAN 1 Magelang.