Boardman student earns national scholarship to study in South Korea

By Bruce Walton

bwalton@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

In two weeks, Boardman High school graduate Nektarios Kasamias, 18, will arrive in Seoul to study Korean for nine months thanks to earning a national scholarship.

Kasamias said he’s always wanted to travel and experience different cultures, but knew he didn’t have the money to do so. After looking online, he found the National Security Language Initiative for Youth scholarship. He chose to learn Korean and gained respect for the culture of South Korea a few years ago, after finding an interest in his sister’s Korean drama shows.

“You see a really unique blend of East and West in South Korea,” he said. “It’s really interesting.”

Kasamias will leave for Seoul on Aug. 30 to stay with his host family. The 3.9 grade-point-average student will take a half day at Seoul Digitech High School then attend a four-hour Korean language class with other U.S. students. Although he will start with little knowledge of the Korean language, he said he’ll be almost fluent by the end of the year.

The government-funded scholarship will pay for any expenses students will have from transportation to groceries through a stipend during the academic year. Kasamias had to go through a long and intense application process in which 15 percent of more than 3,000 applicants are accepted.

Lisa Mervosh, the program associate for the initiative, said the goal of the scholarship is to allow for students to learn languages not usually taught in schools through living among the local culture.

“Our world is becoming increasingly interconnected, and having students who have a deep appreciation and understanding of other cultures is very important to foster better diplomacy and peace-building efforts,” she said.

The decade-long initiative, she said, looks for students who have both the willingness and capability to learn a new, different language through the immersion in the language’s culture. Growing up bilingual in Greek and English and learning a couple of other languages through different approaches, Kasamias said immersion is the best.

“Immersion is different because you’re surrounded by the language 24/7, so it’s a lot more hands-on learning,” he said. “Going to the grocery store, going to the bank, taking the bus, every experience becomes an opportunity to learn the language.”

Kasamias said he’s not sure what he wants to do for a career but knows he wants to advocate peace in the world, and this trip will help him reach that goal.

While in Seoul, Kasamias said he will write a blog where he will share his experiences. Visit nektarioskasamias.wordpress.com to follow his journey.