Through the Access to Education program, I was able to find a great volunteering experience at the Boys and Girls Club. I volunteer at this site for about a 1-2 hour almost every week. During my volunteering, I would help kids on their homework, play with them or have dinner with them. One of my most memorable experience was when the kids come up to me and hug me. It is just very refreshing to receive that spontaneous affection from them. From these kids, I learn a little by little more about Columbus. There are so many sides of Columbus that campus life just does not reflect it. I am glad I learned more from these kids. Because one of the most heartbreaking memory I have during this volunteering experience was one of the kids ask a cop about his father who is in jail. It must be difficult on that kid yet he takes life with strides. These little moments are things I will never learn in the classroom and I am glad I get to know life better.

Words cannot expressed how thankful I am to receive this award. I applied spontaneously days before the deadline in October with thoughts that I probably won’t get this scholarship and my dream of going to Korea will probably never come true. To my amazement, I got this email notification from the Gilman Scholars program. I am happy to announce that I will be studying abroad in Korea during the summer of 2017. Studying in Korea will offer me plenty of opportunities for me to improve my language skills as I want to later serve in an Asian community after becoming a physician. Also, I want to further develop my social circle with people who are love everything Korean, ranging from TV shows to skin care! From time to time, I get frustrated and lonely for not having more people in my life who see the same passion. In Korea, I will be taking 2 classes with one Korean language and the other GE class. The trip also consists of excursions to Busan and other places in Korea!Gilman Scholarship Letter-1gkm9rm