Whiz Kid of the Week: Vanessa Sauter

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Vanessa Sauter

Age: 17

School:

Accomplishment: In August, Vanessa Sauter visited the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in East Asia as part of an exciting two-week cultural exchange program. She was one of only 100 high school students selected nationwide for the scholarship, which was sponsored by the Council on International Educational Exchange and Yonsei University, South Korea’s oldest and most acclaimed university.  

“I was really impressed with the culture, and how friendly and motivated the people are,” Vanessa said in a recent interview.  “We took classes on North/South relations and Korean culture at the University. We explored Seoul, saw fantastic cultural events, and even visited a Buddhist temple.”

Vanessa had just finished final exams for her junior year when she was accepted into the program. “I was ecstatic. I was really happy! It was great to finish exams and then be rewarded with this program.”

Reason for Awesomeness: Vanessa has a long-time interest in East Asian culture. She has studied the Chinese language for six years, and plans to live in East Asia during her college career. Vanessa is particularly interested in the cultural relations between China and Korea.

“I spent a few days with a Korean family,” said Vanessa. “I was amazed how interested they were in other cultures. In the family I visited, the mother spoke limited English, but she did speak some Chinese. It was amazing we could communicate so well with a mix of all three languages.” 

Key to Awesomeness: Vanessa described her stay as a life-changing experience. She made a conscious decision to immerse herself in Korean culture, expressing this in her application essay:  

The Chinese translation for, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” …can be rephrased as “Enter a village, listen, and submit.”

…As a student, I’m capable of researching South Korea, reading articles on its vast economy, or trying new dishes at the local Korean restaurant. However, such capabilities can only teach me about South Korea, and prevent me from truly experiencing it…

One must be willing to fully expose him or herself by “listening and submitting,” as the Chinese phrase describes. Only in the process of becoming open-minded about the differences between the United States and Korea, and displaying a drive to learn and experience South Korea, can one create good relations between the two countries.