By Clara Moffitt

How would you like to study abroad for a full academic year, become fluent in a foreign language, experience a completely different culture, and make friends from all over the world – for free?
Tempe Prep alum Abby Everding is doing just that in South Korea. Abby graduated from Tempe Prep last spring, was accepted to highly selective Northwestern University near Chicago, and received a deferment to participate in the U.S. State Department’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program in Korea for a year and then start at Northwestern the following year.

Our TPA College Counselor, Mrs. Moffitt, explains, “As these gap-year experiences are becoming more common and increasingly valuable, universities and employers recruit students from all over the world and highly value study abroad experiences that give their incoming freshmen a deeper, global perspective on their academic studies.”

There are three State Department programs that provide full scholarships for high school seniors to study abroad over a gap year between high school and college: the NSLI-Y program to study critical foreign languages, the YES Abroad program, and the Congress-Bundestag programs to study in Germany. Mrs. Moffitt notes, “I have met students that have participated in all three programs – both from the U.S. and from abroad – and they are all outstanding students and engaging people.”

“It’s been a wonderful experience so far,” says Abby. While living with her host family and attending school, she gets to meet “my NSLI-Yans from all over the U.S., who have become some of my closest friends, and engage in a beautiful culture so different from my own.”

According to her host family, Abby has been to every fish market in Korea! At school, Abby takes normal classes, and also takes a Korean test monthly to ensure her knowledge and progress in the language. In addition to school, Abby has the opportunity to tour Korea on days off and go to locations such as Seoul, Gwangju, Korean pop concerts, and places where she can practice photography and learn Korean history.
Abby and Mrs. Moffitt highly recommend the State Department scholarship programs for graduating seniors. First, it is an unmatched educational experience for learning language, culture, and myriad other subjects. Second, says Mrs. Moffitt, “It is completely funded by the U.S. State department, including all your tuition, travel, and living expenses.”

Students should take advantage of study-abroad experiences in college, but they generally last only one short semester, instead of two, are limited to academic subjects that apply to your major (with the stress of college grading), and can be expensive. Third, students get to stay with vetted host families so the immersion experience is also in a warm, family environment with lifelong, global relationships.

Abby adores NSLI-Y and the global experiences she is able to have while participating. She encourages all high school students to consider the opportunity. She says, “I’m so thankful for the program and all the bonds I’ve gotten to make during it!”