From Latvia to Lee's Summit: Kristine Vainovska is ready for another year at MCC-Longview

When Kristine Vainovska left for school, she did not merely leave home like most students.

Instead, Vainovska decided to travel to a completely different part of the world to start building a life in the middle of a country she had never visited. Vainovska came to the United States from Latvia as an exchange student through the Hickman Mills High School’s AFS program. It was a chance opportunity that could have landed her anywhere, but, she says, she is glad it landed her here.

“It was kind of interesting since I was allowed to pick what country I wanted to go to, but I did not get to pick where in that country,” she said. “So when they said Kansas City, Missouri, all I could say was OK.”

Vainovska decided she wanted to stay in the U.S. and shifted her focus from just graduating high school to now graduating from college.

“I think a lot of people think the grass is greener on the other side,” she said, jokingly. “So, I wanted to see myself.”

At Longview, Vainovska has not been short of activities. As soon as she started classes she signed up to become part of Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society here on campus. She also works at the campus bookstore and is involved throughout the community on top of her full-time general education studies.

Her hard work in the past year has paid off as she was the recipient of the PTK Missouri Leader of Promise Scholarship. The award is given only to two dedicated PTK members that can also maintain a stellar academic record.

“It was such an honor to be recognized for the work I have done with PTK,” she said. Starting in August she will become the Vice President in-charge of all the organizations publicity and marketing for the next school year.

Her hard work in school and with PTK, though, has not been done along. Vainovska is quick to recognize her friends, host family and a wide network of supporters at Longview and elsewhere that have offered their help as she continues through school.

“I am always amazed at just how open and friendly everyone has been along the way,” she said. “That has been a great help and has surprised me each time.”

With the start of classes looming in August, Vainovska said she is ready for the next school year – her final year at Longview. After graduation in May, Vainovska said she hopes to transfer to Northwest Missouri State where she will get her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in sociology or psychology.

But beyond that her plans become a bit less concrete. Something she is OK with for now.

“Where I am going to be after the next four years; I do not know,” she said. “I will just have to wait and see.”