Auf Wiedersehen to the U.S., und hallo to Germany! Charles Young has his sights set on attending university in Germany and has gone through the Study Bridge Program by the Goethe-Institute to become an international student.
The Study Bridge Program is a non-profit charity that is part of the Federal Republic of Germany, also known as the German Government, which funds the CHS German program. The Study Bridge Program provides an in-depth learning experience for individuals interested in exploring German language and culture in greater depth. Besides improving grammar and speaking fluency, classes focus on educating students about life in the country. Whether it is daily life or cultural events, the Study Bridge Program is geared towards preparing students to live in Germany.
Although not many students choose to attend college internationally, Young’s choice to deviate from the norm was mainly driven by his selected major: nuclear physics.
“One of the main reasons is that I want to study theoretical nuclear physics, and Germany has a connection with Switzerland,” Young said. “Switzerland has CERN, which I want to work at.”
For background, CERN is the European Organization for Nuclear Research, known in part for operating the largest particle-physics laboratory in the world.
Despite Young’s plans, there are obstacles to reaching his goal.
“I need to study more German so I can get to the level I need to be at,” Young said. “The European Union has a standard level, and most of the universities I’m applying to need me to reach the B2 level.”
At the top of his list of universities, he is looking into the University of Bonn, which is located in Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany.
While more memories are to be made in the future, Young also remembers the highlights of his high school career.
“I don’t have [a favorite memory],” Young said. “I don’t think I can name one, because there’s so many good memories about high school. In general, I would say just meeting my friends because I joined [the] Claremont Unified School District my freshman year.”
To all the underclassmen, he would like to add one more thing.
“High school ends in four years, and eventually, things that happen will become footnotes—and you’ll laugh about it,” Young said. “So you know, keep an open mind.”
