Picture by Brittany Hover

By Alex Kinnee

While most students will be spending their time soaking up the last rays of summer sunshine in August, freshman Courtney Carlson will be on her way to Germany to study abroad for her sophomore year.

Courtney will leave the first week of August and be completely immersed in the German culture until she returns in June 2011.

“I am definitely looking forward to this experience,” said Courtney.

Through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) program, Courtney applied for and received a full-ride scholarship to study for a year in Germany.

“I am really excited for her,” said freshman Celena Maiorano, Courtney’s friend. “She really deserves this and has been working toward it for quite some time.”

Courtney’s mother Norma Carlson said her daughter has been interested in studying abroad since fifth grade, which is when she first heard about this scholarship.

Courtney discovered the program CBYX from a family friend, Frankie Neiman. She felt compelled to apply because of her love of traveling.

For this scholarship, Courtney was required to complete an application and enclose recommendations.

“She filled out the entire application by herself without her dad and I ever reading it or helping out,” said Carlson.

“This included teacher recommendations, a form filled out by her counselor, a medical form filled out by Kaiser, a collage, a letter to her host family, and more,” she said.

Courtney’s parents said they were proud of her for taking on the application on her own and persevering throughout the process.

After the initial stage, Courtney was selected as a semifinalist and then attended an in-person interview. She first had an individual interview in front of a panel of five people.

Courtney’s parents said they enjoyed watching her talk to the interviewers with poise, confidence and determination.

Following the individual interview, there was a group interview where all of the applicants were given a task to complete.

In the task, the group was required to work together to create a presentation that displayed five cultural differences between American and German culture. The panelists observed how well members of the group collaborated with each other.

Throughout the in-depth application process, Courtney remained calm, her friends and family said.

“She seemed like she was taking everything really well,” said her brother, senior Brian Carlson. “It was a lot to go through though.”

Although it was a difficult process, Courtney has high regards for the program.

“It’s great because there are no restrictions on who can apply. You just have to have above a 3.0,” said Courtney. “You don’t even have to be able to speak the language.”

Courtney is slowly starting to learn some German. Her friend, freshman Mischa Fritz, speaks the language fluently and has been teaching her a new word everyday, as well as giving her tips on German culture.

Despite knowing hardly any German, or anybody in the country, Courtney will get a full cultural experience while attending a German high school and living with a German host family.

“I find it really interesting,” said Mischa. “It’s a new cultural experience and she’ll be immersed in a new language, but she can definitely handle it.”

Cal High counselor Michelle Reardon-Sampson said earning such a scholarship to study abroad is a rare opportunity for a Cal student.

There are only 250 students across the United States who are awarded this scholarship, and Courtney was one of the lucky ones granted this opportunity.

“I think that it’s pretty cool for her to go to Germany and experience this,” said Brian.

Ten months is a long time to be away from home, and Courtney said she will miss her family and friends.

Her loved ones will miss her as well.

“I’m not sure how we will handle her being gone for 10 months,” said Courtney’s father David Carlson.

“Those negative emotions, however, will be outshadowed by the joy for the tremendous experience and the excitement and anticipation of discovering the person she will be when she returns, since we are sure this adventure will change her in many positive ways,” he said.

Courtney hopes to gain a lot from her time in Germany that can help her succeed in the future.

“I am sure that I will come back speaking fluently, a lot more mature, and more independent from my parents,” said Courtney.

Courtney’s parents also have high hopes that she will take away a lot from this experience.

“I hope that Courtney will have a better understanding of other cultures, global issues, learn a new language and continue to grow as a person,” her mother said. “She cares deeply about people and the environment and I think this experience will benefit her as she figures out her path in life.”

In addition to coming back with a mastery of the German language and a newfound sense of independence, Courtney also acknowledges that this immersion program will look good on her future college applications.