Fulbright Personal Statement
Visual artist Sierra DeVuyst, a Fulbright semi-finalist, standing with Myah Blackmon and Rose Marika Mwansa at Towson University.
The same year Trump slashed funding and enacted heavy repression of grants, I was announced a Fulbright Semi-Finalist. I am unsure if there were any awardees for the research division that year. (A few months after this, the entire board of Fulbright resigned- I am disappointed in what transpired and how our political establishment is consistently seeking political turmoil while slashing funding for arts and research).
Below is my personal statement. If this helps you craft yours, or feel brave enough to apply- I will be grateful I posted it here. Cheers!
By the age of 35, I had moved 21 times, the majority of which happened after I turned 18. Fueled by the thrill of the unknown and my constant curiosity, as well as the need to be completely financially independent due to the 2008 financial crisis, I journeyed around the country doing odd jobs. My parents had lost their house and filed bankruptcy, leaving me to live in a tent and rock climb in Kentucky, be a live-in nanny in Park City, Utah, and share a room with my sister as I worked three jobs while keeping my head above water in San Diego. At 23, I joined the Coast Guard, desiring to climb out of poverty and have access to health insurance and higher education.
It was there that my circumstances led me to attempt to understand poverty, sexism and the lack of a social bill of rights in the systems that I once navigated blindly. I was facing sexual trauma in the military and attempted to stand against a sexual predator; becoming a whistleblower in an organization that would eventually punish me for it. I advocated for other victims and left the organization with a dream to create the Notable Women Coloring Book - a way to share inspiring and strong women often forgotten in history that, if more known, I believe, would help dismantle sexism and misogyny.
My plans to continue my education were stalled after my husband plummeted 55 feet while in Chile on a Coast Guard deployment. Newly married, our lives were turned upside down as we relocated across the country from Alaska to Texas. Seeking flexibility while acting as the primary caregiver during my husband’s recovery process, I opened a graphic design and illustration business that worked with billion dollar organizations like the San Antonio International Airport. I also began connecting with community organizations and civil rights groups, volunteering with groups like MOVE Texas, a voting nonprofit focused on fighting election suppression, and Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera, a nonprofit seeking to resist injustice through transnational solidarity focused on undocumented and vulnerable populations.
While living in Texas, I encountered people claiming that the Civil War was not about slavery. Intrigued, I read "The War that Forged a Nation" and discovered a passion for uncovering historical truths. This led me to delve deeper into propaganda, understand the stories we tell ourselves, and to also learn Spanish.
My curiosity led me to pursue a degree in science communication, eventually discovering painting. Since returning to school in 2020, I have maintained a perfect GPA and a consistent studio practice. As a painter and business owner, I am self-motivated and dedicated. I have a painting studio in Baltimore and have created works focused on suburban sprawl. After studying in Spain and experiencing walkable communities, I want to use my skills to understand and promote people-centered city planning in Colombia and the United States.
If accepted to the Fulbright, I would like to apply for a Master of Fine Art degree and have a studio practice while working in either visual communication or teaching. I have been interested in the Fulbright scholarship for a decade and never thought I was qualified enough to apply. Even with a decade of experience in business, it has been with the support and encouragement of faculty that has assisted in recognizing the accomplishments and successes I have tucked under my belt. My diverse background will assist me in being flexible with changes, compassionate with others while maintaining fortitude to put forth research and a finished project that will be an asset for the Fulbright organization, create a strong cultural exchange and aid my personal career goals.
