Project Bridge 2025
Hello, I'm Kezia Araujo, a senior at Downtown Magnets High School. I am Dartmouth-bound and plan to major in engineering sciences. I was born and raised in LA alongside my four older siblings. Project Bridge has so far provided me with a large breadth of insight on a culture different from mine. The program has allowed me an exploration of history and social norms that guide Korea. Each time we meet, I feel compelled to explore more and expand my scope of knowledge. The sessions with my fellow ambassadors have also built a sense of community in our collective growth. I look forward to the program’s study tour to Korea. As someone who rarely has a chance to travel, the study tour is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I hope to thoroughly enjoy. I am excited at the idea of experiencing aspects of Korean culture and society that I have only seen or heard of. I love sightseeing so visiting cultural and/or historical monuments will be particularly thrilling to me. The cuisine is also a characteristic of Korea that I highly anticipate to be novel and delicious. The vast experiences to be had during the study tour highlight the significance of the learning done throughout the program.
Hello my name is Evelyn Diaz, I am currently in eleventh grade at John H. Francis Polytechnic High School. I have been interested in both visual arts and history at a very young age, which enkindled a love for the history and art of other cultures. I identify as Mexican-American and I live in a community heavily influenced by the diversity of Latin American culture. I have always enjoyed trying the foods and participating in the cultural events of other Latin American cultures. I applied to Project Bridge because I have been wanting to branch out and explore other cultures and it has been a great step in that direction. I have learned so much about the history behind Korean culture and geography, and the impacts that Korean immigrants have had on Los Angeles. I am excited to meet people from New York, Montana, and Korea and I hope to make connections as well as memories that will last a lifetime. I have barely been out of California let alone the United States, so I look forward to the study tour to Korea because of its rich history and notable art.
Hi, my name is Logan Li and I am currently a junior attending Mark Keppel High School. I am a patrol leader for Boy Scouts of America, Troop 349. I am also an active member in the High School Missionary team at church and a group leader in my fellowship. I enjoy planning for discussions and activities every week to help build relationships and bond with others. I applied for the Korea Bridge Project to improve my leadership and communication skills. I believe that it is important to learn about different cultures and understand why it's important to build relationships and communicate with others. By being a part of this program, I can meet others with similar goals. I am excited for the study tour to Korea, to see and experience the culture and history of Korea and how it can shape lives every day. I look forward to trying new foods and visiting historical sites. I hope to improve myself as a person through these experiences, and make lasting friendships with those I meet along the way.
I’m a curious and kind kid who grew up in a Hispanic-dominated community, Boyle Heights. My name is Bryan Lopez and I am a junior attending Theodore Roosevelt High School, a part of the Law and Public Service Magnet Pathway. I come from a household of ten that includes my father, mother, grandfather, four brothers, and two sisters. My family blossomed the strong character within me through the many lessons they’ve taught me. My family is my biggest support group, they are by my side whenever circumstances arise. I applied to this transformative Project Bridge program to explore my interests and get out of my comfort zone. As I previously mentioned, I come from a Hispanic-dominated community excluding any variety, setting limitations. Learning and incorporating other cultures with my own will expand my mindset and find similarities within our cultures. Also, learning Korean Culture will give me the ability to teach my peers about Korea, bridging the gap between our cultures. Throughout the weekly workshops, I’ve learned about the origins of Korea, the differences and commonalities between North and South Korea, and their culture which all contribute to the preparation for the study tour to South Korea. Visiting South Korea will allow me to achieve one of my dreams, which is to explore the world.
Hi! I’m Yarel Mendez, a 17-year-old Mexican-American and senior at Abraham Lincoln High School. Being raised in a multicultural environment has sparked my curiosity to understand and learn different cultures. I viewed the Project Bridge Program as a chance to travel and gain firsthand cultural knowledge. South Korea, a country recognized as a global powerhouse in various aspects such as economy, technology, and innovation, has piqued my interest, and through this program I hope to gain insight into the history and heritage of this nation. Furthermore, I want to step out of my comfort zone and develop my ability to work and communicate with others. Being a Youth Ambassador has given me the privilege to learn the historical hardships Korea has faced and begin studying Korean alongside my peers. I am thrilled to immerse myself in the culture of Korea firsthand and have the chance to interact with the other Youth Ambassadors who share a passion of learning foreign cultures through the study tour. Additionally, I am looking forward to the opportunity to conduct research on a subject I am enthusiastic about regarding South Korea, share my findings with others, and hopefully spark their interest. Through this journey I aim to understand South Korea’s rich history and not only learn but share the lessons I gain along the way.
Hello! My name is Joel Nam, and I am currently a junior attending Van Nuys High School. I am a second-generation Korean-American, but have never felt comfortable claiming my parents’ ethnic heritage as my own. Born in Bakersfield and raised in Los Angeles, I’ve always identified most strongly as “American,” with nothing else attached. For that reason, Project Bridge immediately sparked my interest when I learned about it. Hoping that this program would help me form a deeper connection with my culture, I applied. I’m delighted to share that Project Bridge hasn’t disappointed in the slightest. Alongside peers of various backgrounds, I’ve already learned so many new things. Learning about modern developments in Korean history, particularly concerning North Korea and Japanese occupation, has been very interesting and insightful. Additionally, our assigned reading, Pachinko, is the most gripping novel I’ve read in a long while. Even beyond strictly Korean history and culture, we’ve explored the dynamics of race relations in recent America (the 1992 LA riots) and day-to-day life. I feel very fortunate to be able to participate and learn in our workshops, and couldn’t be more excited for all that’s left to come. Of course, I look forward to meeting the other Youth Ambassadors from Montana and New York, and have high hopes for the study tour to South Korea.
My name is Abdalrhman Sheer. I was born and raised in Egypt and I immigrated to the United States in 2022. I’m a senior at Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School. I’m passionate about the intersection of technology and medicine and look forward to pursuing biomedical engineering in undergrad. Growing up with an Egyptian heritage, I had limited opportunities to meet people from other countries, which restricted my exposure to different cultures. When I immigrated to the United States, I didn’t fully grasp just how different my culture was from others. However, I was eager to embrace this opportunity to not only adapt to my new environment but also to learn from my peers about their cultures: how they live, their traditions, and their ways of interacting. This experience has empowered me with new perspectives and broadened my understanding of how others see the world. Learning about other cultures is one thing; truly experiencing them is another. Project Bridge has transcended the idea of merely learning about South Korean life. Being part of Project Bridge is giving me the chance to connect with like-minded peers who share the same mission of cultural exchange, while also learning from their perspectives. This experience has further emphasized the power of understanding and appreciating different cultures. Through our biweekly meetings, guided by Mrs. Pak, we delve into the Korean language, the history of South Korean leaders, and more, immersing ourselves in a new cultural narrative. The upcoming 10-day study tour to South Korea in April is incredibly exciting and promises to be one of the most unique and transformative experiences of my life.
Hello everyone! I am Ashley Yu, a junior and proud eagle at South El Monte High School. As a student, I am deeply involved in my school and community, striving to be the bridge between adults and teens, with a strong focus on the well-being and empowerment of my fellow students. In the future, I aspire to become an attorney, practicing in either entertainment or business/corporate law. I applied to the Project Bridge program because it is the best way to spread my love for Korean culture to those around me, as spreading awareness and education is something I can contribute to better my community. In our workshops, we’ve learned about premodern history going back millennia, how Korea’s society became what it is today, how the Korean community in Downtown LA was affected during the 1992 LA riots, traditional games, and much more. These next few months excite me because I’ll be able to travel to the place we’ve focused on as our case study, have the opportunity to new experiences, learn more about race relations/Korean society, and, most of all, create lifelong connections and memories I will have the privilege of share with my fellow youth ambassadors. I am thrilled and I will do my best to represent this year’s 2024-2025 Project Bridge program.