[191] MTSU Graduate Overcomes Odds To Teach Overseas

Nov. 12, 2009
Editorial Content: Sydney Hester, Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919

MTSU GRADUATE OVERCOMES ODDS TO TEACH OVERSEAS

MURFREESBORO—Former Middle Tennessee State University student Kirk Medley (MTSU ’06), overcoming the challenges of being a paraplegic, graduated with a degree in global studies and took his experiences and education overseas to teach English as a Second Language classes in Vietnam.
Medley became interested in Vietnam because of his cousin, a veteran of the Vietnam War. Learning about the culture through his cousin, he was able to look beyond the usual prejudices associated with the war- torn country. He credits Dr. Doug Heffington, MTSU professor of history, with helping him to put together a study-abroad program that would take him to Vietnam.
In addition to Heffington, Medley says, “I would especially like to thank Dr. Judith Rusciolelli [MTSU professor of foreign languages] for going to bat for me and believing in me while many people didn’t.”
Medley took his college lessons of perseverance and persistence with him. However, the first years were not without their difficulties. He found himself short of ESL hours according to Vietnam law, struggling with money and knowing virtually no one. His luck changed when he encountered a fellow teacher from America who helped him to meet with prospective students. Soon Medley was swamped with students.
“[MTSU] was also a great confidence builder, which helped me try to achieve something unique,” Medley says of his initial struggles in a foreign country.
Medley found the strength to persevere in light of his disability. He found a way to work with the students of Vietnam, which in turn earned him vast appreciation among many people. His teaching allowed the Vietnamese to study English with a native speaker without having to pay the high prices of a language academy.
Medley continues to astound those who know of him and his story. From the classrooms of MTSU to the schoolrooms of Vietnam, he reflects strength and selflessness.
“Just as in anyone's life, the difficulties are often what push us to achieve,” Medley says. “The higher the mountain, the greater the reward for conquering it.”

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With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.