News & Events
WHS grad to spend year studying in Germany
Posted on 07.01.2009
WHS grad to spend year studying in Germany |
Published: 6/10/09
Reprinted with permission http://thewoodstockindependent.com/story.php?id=153
Courtesy photo
Kelley Sullivan stands in front of her host family’s home before attending a Musikfest during last year’s Woodstock High School German exchange trip. Pictured, from left, are: Jenny Jones, Dominik, Sullivan and Wonni.
Until recently, 2009 Woodstock High School graduate Kelley Sullivan had plans to study elementary education at Illinois State University.
That all changed when she learned she was one of 50 applicants nationwide to be selected as part of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals. The CBYX is a full-year, work-study scholarship with a strong focus on cultural exchange. The program, which began in 1983, allows youth to develop critical intercultural skills while learning what it's like to live and attend school in Germany.
"Basically, I get to live in Germany for a year," Sullivan said. "They pay for my plane ride there and back and for my schooling."
While no prior language experience is required, Sullivan has studied German for four years at WHS. She also participated in the school's exchange program, during which she lived with a host family in southern Germany for a couple of weeks.
During her upcoming stay, Sullivan will stay with a host family and attend school at a German high school, which Sullivan said will almost be like a 13th grade. Sullivan is hoping to be placed in the south near the friends she met the last time she was in Germany.
"I really fell in love with the culture," Sullivan said when asked why she decided to pursue such a life-changing scholarship. "I really liked meeting the people there."
Two former WHS students -- Cole Konopka and Kalley Besler -- have also participated in the program, providing Sullivan with some personal insight into the experience.
Konopka studied journalism during his stay, and even had a handful of articles published in a German newspaper. Besler spent her time training to become a chef. While Sullivan describes their experiences more as internships, she said this year would be different. It will be more of an immersion into German education. While she said it will be interesting to see how education works in Germany, her main goal is to become fluent in German.
Sullivan said that though her family is a bit apprehensive about the trip, it was an opportunity she couldn't pass up.
"The cutoff is 18 (years old)," she said. "I couldn't put this off any longer."
Sullivan said she has full intentions of returning home to finish her original plans of earning an elementary education degree from ISU when her time in Germany is through.
Although it may be out of her comfort zone, Sullivan said she feels the experience will benefit her in the long run, even if that means a year away from her family and friends.
"I just think we're at the age when we should take any experience that comes our way," Sullivan said.
