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Community Builder. Dancer. Fulbrighter.

Sheridan Gabrisch '15 Connected with Students Through the Language of Dance in Malaysia

By Texas Christian University

September 16^th, 2021

“I knew early in my college career that I was interested in applying for the Fulbright,” said Sheridan Gabrisch ’15. Her interest in the program grew out of her friendship with Andrea Edmundson ’11, her sister’s sorority sister, who served as an English teaching assistant in Malaysia the same year Gabrisch started at TCU.

“As I neared graduation, I wondered how I was going to serve my purpose in my major, interior design,” she recalled. “I knew I was either going to architecture school or potentially receiving a Fulbright grant and changing my direction entirely.”

Before her senior year, Gabrisch solidified her intention to veer off course. So she cold-emailed Ron Pitcock, Ph.D., director of prestigious scholarships and interim dean of the John V. Roach Honors College, to learn more about the application process.

As an interior design major, Gabrisch noted that she was “a different kind of applicant” than others from TCU, most of whom are Honors students majoring in the liberal arts. “But Dr. Pitcock said, ‘Let’s do it!’ and provided invaluable guidance and support to my application,” she said.

And within months, she started teaching English to students in the Malaysian village of Bera, Pahang.

Gabrisch poses with students at — Gabrisch poses with students at "sports time," a daily ritual in the early evening when groups play soccer or other games.

Life as 'Miss Sherry'

Like all other Fulbrighters, the program assigned Gabrisch a mentor to help her adjust to life and work in Malaysia. Gabrisch’s mentor, Razi, as she affectionately called him, was a local English teacher at her school in Bera who became a father figure during her Fulbright year.

“We had a lot of really cool and exploratory conversations,” she said. “We talked about topics like the [2016] U.S. presidential election, American culture, perspectives and places, and all things Texas. In turn, he taught me so much about Islam, Malaysian culture and the inner workings of the country as a whole.”

Centrally located in Malaysia, Bera’s population is a mix of cultures and religions, though a majority of citizens are Muslims who speak Malay, like Razi.

Razi is also the one who nicknamed Gabrisch “Miss Sherry” because he knew most of her students would be unable to pronounce her English first name.

Gabrisch taught hundreds of students, ranging from ages 13 to 18, who had varying levels of English proficiency. To help further their studies, she hosted private tutoring sessions outside of class, spent time in extracurricular activities, organized and conducted English camps, and hosted Miss Sherry’s Dance Day, where students learned choreographed dances to American songs.

“Dance has always been a mode of expression for me. It allows us to create a common thread with others and speak a language outside of using words,” said Gabrisch. “That's why I wanted to bring dance into my experience in Malaysia—as a tool to engage on a deeper level with my students.”

Gabrisch and her mentor Razi prepare for the closing ceremony of Miss Sherry’s Dance Day. The duo awarded a certificate to each student participant.

"Dance allows us to create a common thread with others and speak a language outside of using words."

Based on the popularity of Dance Day, Gabrisch helped some of the teenage girls form a dance group.

“It was really amazing to see them enjoy something that they’ve never done before,” she said. “They loved it so much, and their confidence skyrocketed after the nights we spent together. There were too many special moments to count.”

That experience eventually led Gabrisch to host beYOUtiful, a girls’ empowerment camp, which she called the highlight of her experience in Malaysia. She invited other female teaching assistants from around the Pahang state to help lead a full day of experiences focused on building confidence, self-reflection, love and lots of fun.

More than 100 students rotated through stations, including a photo shoot, sing-along, fashion show and various crafting activities.

“In one of the crafts, we made flowers and buds to simulate the highs and lows teenagers experience,” said Gabrisch. “We learned so much about the struggles that these girls face, like confidence issues, depression or suicidal thoughts. Those things are just as prevalent in Malaysia as they are in the United States, but they’re even more taboo. It was eye-opening.”

Some of Gabrisch’s students pose for a photo shoot during beYOUtiful, a girls’ empowerment camp focused on confidence.

Upper-level students develop an activity for their peers and students from other schools to participate in during Bera English Day.

Gabrisch teaches an English class to students in Form 1, the youngest grade. Following the daily class activity, Gabrisch called on students to read or present aloud to help overcome shyness.

Gabrisch joins Orang Asli students in a traditional dance during a school ceremony held to celebrate the visit of Gabrisch’s parents. The Orang Asli are the indigenous people of Malaysia and celebrate their own distinctive culture and identity.

“The Greatest Honor of My Life”

By the time Gabrisch returned to the United States, she was already planning a trip back to Malaysia. In 2018, she visited her students again before many of them grew up and moved away.

“It was really important to me to still be present in their lives. We danced, sang karaoke and went to street markets, and I still keep up with a lot of them on social media.”

Reflecting back on her Fulbright experience, Gabrisch called it “the greatest honor of my life.”

“I learned how to face anything that comes my way without fear or reservation," she said. "I saw the world, learned a ton and was forced to put myself outside of my comfort zone daily. It brought a fulfillment to my life that I try to leverage in what I’m doing now, and I strive to continue waking up each day with a purpose.”

Gabrisch says her time in Malaysia impacted her path to her current role as the development director for Connect Community, a nonprofit in Houston that supports one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the United States. "We ensure that future growth remains aligned with residents' desires as it moves the overarching goal of holistic community revitalization from dream to reality. It’s really special how my Fulbright experience led me into this beautifully."

Gabrisch also credits her overall college experience at TCU with setting her up for success during her year abroad and encourages future Fulbrighters to have a no-fear mindset as they live and work somewhere new.

“People always said, ‘You’re making such a difference out there,’” said Gabrisch. “But the Fulbright Program made the difference in me in the most colossal and fantastic way. It was a constant wheel of education, once-in-a-lifetime experiences and moments of indescribable joy. I have the privilege of carrying those with me every day.”

Footnotes

Photos courtesy of Sheridan Gabrisch ’15.

FootNotes

Photos courtesy of Sheridan Gabrisch ’15.

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