From Familiar Roots to New Perspectives: My NSLI-Y Journey

Salene Cho participated in NSLI-Y’s 2024 in-person summer study abroad in Seoul, South Korea

During my junior year of high school, I was given the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Seoul, South Korea, through the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program. Alongside a cohort of 40 other students, I spent seven weeks of my summer learning Korean, exploring Seoul, and experiencing Korean culture in a way I'd never done before. The experience was also filled with so many firsts for me: my first flight alone, my first time traveling without my family, and my first time having to navigate a completely new environment on my own.

As a first-generation Korean American born and raised in the United States, I had always felt somewhat disconnected from my Korean heritage, especially when it came to the language. Most of the Korean I knew came from speaking with my parents at home, and before NSLI-Y, I had only visited Korea once five years prior. I wanted to experience Korea through a different lens, beyond what I knew from my family, and try to cultivate a deeper connection to the language and culture on my own.

One of my favorite parts of NSLI-Y was how much independence the program gave us. While we attended Korean language classes at Hanyang University and participated in weekly cultural activities like learning traditional Korean instruments or K-Pop dances, we also had opportunities to explore Seoul ourselves. I loved visiting neighborhoods like Myeongdong and Seongsu, trying different foods, shopping, and figuring out how to navigate Seoul's subway system. Even small interactions, like ordering food or talking to store employees in Korean, became opportunities to practice what we had learned in class. More importantly, navigating an unfamiliar environment taught me to become more flexible and confident in myself; things that initially seemed intimidating gradually became second nature.

NSLI-Y also organized cultural excursions almost every weekend, allowing us to experience parts of Korea we could not have explored otherwise. Some of my favorite trips included visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and Andong, where we learned more about Korean history and traditions. We also had the opportunity to meet college-aged Korean language supporters who helped us practice speaking Korean and introduced us to Korean culture from a younger perspective, which made the whole experience even more immersive. Getting to know them helped me realize how much there is to learn from people whose backgrounds and everyday experiences are different from my own.

Looking back, I think one of the most valuable parts of studying abroad was how much I grew as a person. Being in a completely different environment pushed me outside my comfort zone and challenged me to approach unfamiliar situations with an open mind, something that I truly believe has benefited me in college. I learned that there are so many different ways of living, thinking, and experiencing the world beyond what I had grown accustomed to in the United States. It helped me become more open-minded, curious, and willing to embrace new experiences in all the new chapters of life I have experienced. It also changed the way I viewed my own identity, allowing me to appreciate my Korean heritage while recognizing the unique perspective I have from growing up between two cultures.

To any younger students considering applying to NSLI-Y or similar study abroad scholarships, I genuinely encourage you to go for it! Studying abroad is about so much more than just learning a language or traveling to a new country. It's an amazing opportunity to challenge yourself, become more independent, build meaningful relationships, and gain perspectives that you might never encounter otherwise. The best part is that you don't need any

experience in the language or traveling to apply---programs like NSLI-Y are designed to help you learn and grow, and scholarships make these experiences accessible to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to go abroad. You might go abroad expecting to learn about another country, but you might come home having learned just as much about yourself.

Support for this activity/conference/workshop was provided in part by the NSLI-Y 20th Anniversary Alumni Grants Program, an initiative of the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y). NSLI-Y is a program of the U.S. Department of State, administered by the American Councils for International Education. The opinions expressed herein are the author's own and do not necessarily express the views of either the U.S. Department of State or American Councils for International Education