High School Diplomats: A Dash of Japanese in Princeton, NJ
NEIRAD enilno edition
Every summer since the late 80s, observant visitors to Princeton University have noted eccentric teens ambling around campus, cheering: “Best ten days of my life!” Although the phrase’s etymology remains a mystery, it has become a familiar and fitting description for High School Diplomats.
As its website (http://www.highschooldiplomats.com/) explains, the HSD program is a scholarship-sponsored cultural enrichment experience that brings together 80 sophomores and juniors from the United States and Japan. Selected students travel to Princeton for ten days of “fun and cultural exchange.”
In the Northeast, HSD remains a well-kept secret. Typically 40 to 50 percent of the applicants for this Centreville, Virginia-based program are Virginians, said Deputy American Director Laurel Lunn. But that’s not to say that the program lacks diversity: from California to Delaware (which, contrary to many Americans’ surprise, is actually a state), my peers this summer hailed from across the continental United States.
“We want to get the most diverse and unique group possible,” Counselor Director Shannon Marklin said. “Above all, we look for honesty and originality in our applications.”
Lunn affirmed this, adding that the selection process places an additional emphasis on general social skills and leadership qualities—qualities that may shine through in the interview, teacher recommendation and three essays required by the application. However, Lunn clarified that there is no single recipe for successful admittance to the program.
“We look holistically so that we can have a diverse group of kids that can function well,” she said.
Never has this been truer than this summer. My peers constituted an impressively (and, to some extent, intimidatingly) bright group. Upon arrival at Princeton I was instantly taken with them: from the history geeks who managed to recall the most obscure facts while simultaneously voicing future political predictions, to the musicians and economic mavericks, they all fruitfully maintained the fine line of analytical yet innovative minds.
It was through our righteous eccentricities, over-flowing enthusiasm and ever-present alacrity that we grew close. Immeasurably close. What had begun as ten days with strangers abruptly morphed into what felt to be months with a HSD family.
Commenting on the HSD family, Japanese student Ryota Hayashi said, “[The students] were always stimulating. In discussions, every student had his or her own thoughts, which were often very, very interesting. I respect them.”
Staff of the HSD Program—which totals more than 20 people, four of whom are devoted to the program year-round—are former participants, making for a not only zealous but also understanding staff. Becoming a member of the HSD staff is an opportunity to “give back,” said Marklin, who also described her own involvement as a true honor.
Program Manager Victoria Hartmann, who graduated from Brown University this past spring, said, “The most important part of making HSD work is that every student and staff member has to want to be there. This deep connection due to a joint love for the program is the spark that makes it all work.”
The staff works astonishingly hard to concoct a flawless ten days for the students. Specifically, there is the matchmaking done for the roommate pairings. Many—namely, myself—found meeting their Japanese roommates to be like recovering a lost soul-mate that had reached them through the divine coincidence of HSD.
In addition to this are the daily activities that exposed students to each other’s cultures—such as, apart from daily seminar-style language and culture classes, a karaoke night, sports tournament and Bunka-No-Hi (Japanese Day of Culture).
“We want this opportunity to be available for all students, regardless of financial eligibility,” Lunn said, commenting on the decision to create and maintain HSD as a scholarship-sponsored program. “Our funders are exceptionally generous.”
I encourage any and every sophomore or junior with an interest in humanities to apply. If there are further questions, feel free to seek me out or e-mail Ms. Parrott, the American director of the program, at Director@highschooldiplmats.com. HSD is one of those life-changing opportunities that appear far too rarely to ever be passed up. Ultimately, it’s a chance to be seriously perceived as a diplomat representing the United States in this prodigious mixing of minds.
The application period is from September 15 through January 8. All applicants will be notified of their status (accepted, declined, or alternate) by letter by April 1.
