Artist of the Edition: Russian-American Adoptee Ana Pelczarski ‘28 on Policy and Poetry

Courtesy of Ana Pelczarski

“Conflict has so many branches to it,” Government major Ana Pelczarski ‘28 began; “Yes, there are the casualties; there’s artillery; but it’s also people.” 

Pelczarski is a young changemaker interested in worldwide history and current events, war and conflict, and how reading and writing can both inform and uplift in times of political despair. Aspiring to become a Political Analyst, she spoke to what led her to this goal, from her layered citizenship and selfhood, early interest in war, and draw to advocacy — and perhaps most importantly, what she hopes to do about it.

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia and raised in the US after her adoption at nearly three years old, Pelczarski has little to remember of her birthplace. Her memory begins in Newport, Rhode Island, where she has since lived. Despite this, Pelczarkski claims she felt a call toward a certain cause occurring in her highschool years — the Russian invasion in Ukraine. “I didn’t know anything about my Russian side. But once the invasion happened, I was just devouring everything — every news article, everything I could find,” she said. After educating herself, she went on to educate others through her school paper. She explained, “I went to my high school newspaper and was like, ‘I have to write about this; I have to tell people about this.’”

After publishing several articles covering the past, present and potential future of the conflicting nations, Peclzarski said, “I couldn’t really place my finger on it then, but I know that it really sparked a flame.”

Her interest in journalism and public advocacy began in high school, but her interest in historical conflict and warfare began as early as her childhood, she said, going back to her memories of watching old war documentaries with her father. She said, “I’ve always been fascinated with war — like, why does it happen? What’s the psychology behind it? Why do leaders view it as justifiable, and how do they actually carry it out? What is the technology and artillery? What are the numbers?” She has conducted research on a number of causes, including the Holocaust, the AIDS epidemic, World Wars I and II, and African Militias.

Pelczarski prides herself in her research, claiming that her favorite ways to learn more about what’s happening around the world is through foreign news. “If I have to click the translate button, I’m on it,” she said. She follows Ukrainian newsletters, looks through Japanese newspapers, and in particular follows small channels depicting on-the-ground events and stories from point sources. She said, “I always like to try to stay on top of the newest pieces of information.”

 Beyond her personal research, she has created and presented a number of her projects, most recently her ‘‘AIDS in African Militaries: A Closer Look’ presentation last fall. She has also worked as a Naval Technology Apprentice, an English Tutor for Ukrainian students abroad, and serves at her school as Chair of Communications for the Student Government Association, News and Politics columnist for the student newspaper, and president of the student poetry club, Reflexion.

Pelczarski spoke further to her passions in the literary arts. “There’s an analytical side, and there’s an artistic side as well,” she began. “I am all for researching topics that are challenging to present to people — I use poetry as a more emotional, personal reflection on that research.” she explained.

Her post-graduate goal is to become a Political Analyst, a governmental role regarding research, assessment, and proposal of solutions to current political conflict. She aims to work abroad, or across nations, using her research and writing skills to set our world up for better futures. For now though, Pelczarski continues to publish her work to newspapers and magazines.

Going back to her origins and initiatives, she reflected, “Though I don’t have any firsthand knowledge from a Russian perspective, I view my background as a unique history I still carry,” she said. She closed, “[Through the art of writing and informing], I feel like I’m doing what I was designed to do.”