By Kailana Williams

   While many of us were busy this summer hanging out with friends, going on vacation and trying to avoid the coming school year, one student pursued a life-altering experience abroad. 

   This summer, senior Dayanara Gamez attended a study abroad program for the National Security Language Initiative for Youth, orNSLI-Y, in Korea. NSLI-Y, an initiative installed by the U.S. State Department, promotes global citizenship in American youth. Students accepted into the program live with host families, go to school, explore a foreign culture and, most importantly, learn the language spoken in the country where they reside.

   In order to be accepted, Dayanara first had to complete an initial application detailing her academic prowess, extracurriculars she is involved in, complete essays and provide overall demographic information. Her application was reviewed and she was accepted as a semifinalist. Then she scheduled an online interview in hopes of becoming a NSLI-Y finalist. Dayanara excitedly recalls the moment she received the email sharing the news that she was accepted during a regular school day. “When I found out I was accepted, I screamed in class,” she said. 

   Her work was far from done, however. Dayanara had much to do to prepare for the extreme trip she was about to embark on. Prior to any travel, participants were required to complete prerequisite assignments in order to be better prepared for their trips. NSLI-Y accepts students of all foreign language readiness levels. Dayanara was a part of one of three cohorts, or groups, within the Korean language applicants. 

   Since her cohort consisted of only beginners, their assignments surrounded the basics of the language and the difference in culture. “The program will send you a program you need to complete … that will basically introduce you to cultural things you need to know before you go so that you don’t feel unprepared … and that you don’t experience too much culture shock when you get there,” Dayanra said. All the assignments were aimed at better preparing students for their travels in a foreign land and reducing culture shock. 

     After the rigorous courses and many meetings prior to actually arriving in Korea, Dayanara finally arrived in Jeonju, where her cohort would stay for the rest of the summer.

     Upon arriving, Dayanara recalls one of her favorite first memories: “On the first day I got there, we drove from Seoul to my city, where I met my host family for the first time, and the first thing my host sister took me to go do was get Korean corn dogs and they were literally the most scrumptious thing ever.” 

   The amazing food and culture were not the only things Dayanara loved while in Korea, though. She also loved the memories she made with the amazing people she met and how much they affected her life. She loved the lessons she learned while attending school there. 

   Walking away from this experience, she said, “I think leaving has just reminded me that the world’s bigger than you think it is and there are literally so many opportunities out there for you, so many ways of life, and so many ways you haven’t thought about thinking about before out there.”

   Her travels and lessons learned inspired her to create the International American Field Service club for Tempe Prep students to become more globally aware, and to understand the different cultures around the world. She runs meetings every Thursday during high school lunch in room 407 and would love to share more about her experiences abroad in greater detail and help other students pursue a similar future in becoming more aware of just how large the world really is, and how small we really are.