Alena Machálková

I come from a little village in the Beskydy Mountains. I received a great part of my elementary education at Frýdek-Místek, where I also met a great teacher who helped me to get to like mathematics, which determined my destiny – at least for some time. A high school with a focus on mathematics followed, with me discovering the beauty of mathematics and physics for two years. I also got to like travelling and working on mastering foreign languages. I completed my high school education at a language high school in Ostrava.

I jumped at every opportunity to travel abroad, working as an au pair in France and London, and also in Scotland at a part-time job. I got to like travelling so much that I hitchhiked around almost every other European country. The experience that I gathered in the process convinced me that I wanted to focus on sociology and international relationships more than on mathematics. And thanks to 100% support from The Kellner Family Foundation, I have been so lucky as to study what I want to abroad – at the University of Aberdeen.

Secondary

First two years at the Mikoláš Koperník High School in Bílovec, in an accelerated mathematics program, and the other two years at Hladnov High School in Ostrava, in an advanced language program; graduated in 2011

University

University of Aberdeen, UK, started in 2011
Lignan University Hong Kong, a one-year exchange stay in the 2012/2013 academic year

E-mail

kwitko@email.cz

Goals

Successfully graduate from university, including the subsequent Master’s degree, go to distant lands as a volunteer, and get to know other cultures, languages, people and perhaps ways to help as well.

Interests

Traveling - mostly hitchhiking, languages, friends, and spontaneity