CEC Aurora students John Lopez and Brielle Watts attended the 4th Annual Seongnam City International Youth Conference in Seoul as representatives of Aurora. Students selected for this exchange program participate in various cultural experiences and exchange activities in Seongnam City. We asked our representatives about their experience:
John Lopez, CECA 12th Grader:
What was the selection process for the 4th Annual Seongnam City International Youth Conference?
1) I found the program through the Aurora Sister City’s, I have been with them for a little more than a year. I’m a Youth Ambassador with this organization so naturally I was made aware of the program from the jump as they had posted about the sign up for an opportunity to be interviewed to see which ten students would be selected to go on the trip. After I signed up for the opportunity to be interviewed with an application they later accepted me then, the day came and the interview lasted around 30 minutes and there were four interviewees in my group and around 3 or 4 interviewers. After the group interview they selected the 10 students to join the program!
Provide a 1-5 sentence overview of what you did during the conference
2) During the conference we had representatives from a total of 6 countries that introduced where their group is from and who they all are. The six countries that students who attended this conference are from was South Korea, USA, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, and Japan. During the weeklong trip we spent 4 days at the youth conference and we all stayed at Gachon University’s dorm and campus during this time. We got to do many different activities with these students from different countries throughout our time at Gachon University like getting to see different companies that specialize in technology and with the use of AI. We also got to build things of our own like robot cars and even light sensors. Along with all of these things we got to do our own research with the students and make project based on that research. The presentations would later be presented on the last day to everyone to see. The presentations were about addressing and solving current day issues we face due to the usage of technology.
What was your biggest takeaway from the conference?
3) My biggest takeaway from the conference is that I truly do want to explore the world and meet new people from different countries but also explore different countries because I feel like that is an experience unlike any other. Comparing and talking about how different our cultures are is something truly awesome! Even getting to collaborate with people who you don’t have shared experiences with is great because you get to discuss so much with that you learn but you also teach. I also think that getting to see a new place for the first time is so eye opening to the limitless possibilities that someone can accomplish and get to one day.
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Brielle Watts, CECA 10th Grader:
What was the selection process for the 4th Annual Seongnam City International Youth Conference?
1. The process for the conference was starting with emailing them about why you should be picked and all about your information. Then I got an email back saying I could come in for an interview. I was nervous but it ended up being a group interview with 3 other people. Then you get an email back after the interview saying if you were picked or not.
Provide a 1-5 sentence overview of what you did during the conference
2. The conference was really cool! We started with the opening day that had some performances and a dinner that was meant to have you meet the other kids. We then continued the next few days by learning about digital transformation and friendly debating with the other students. We were also planning for a presentation each team would present on the very last day before we left.
What was your biggest takeaway from the conference?
3. It was just so eye opening for me on how different the other side of the world and how amazing everybody can be together even with our differences. Everybody was just so nice as well.
