News from The Mahurin Honors College

Maria Julian, known as "MJ," is a native of Louisville, Kentucky, and a recent alumna of Western Kentucky University (WKU ‘24). As a member of the Chinese Flagship Program (CFP) at WKU, she is gearing up for her fifth-year capstone experience in Southeast Asia. Her journey is bolstered by the prestigious David L. Boren Scholarship, a $25,000 award supporting language-focused study abroad for the 2024-2025 academic year. MJ is one of seven recipients of this scholarship from the spring 2024 award cycle, all of whom are graduates of the CFP at WKU.

Initially, MJ had no background in the Chinese language and had not considered WKU as a top choice, as she was interested in pursuing a veterinary career. Her campus tours left her feeling that some schools were “too big and not personal” or didn’t inspire her. She also preferred not to attend the same school as her siblings.

Her perspective changed during the interview process for the Cherry Presidential Scholarship. Reflecting on this experience, MJ said, “I wanted to stay in-state because I did Governor’s Scholar Program (GSP) and had those scholarships. During the Cherry Presidential interview, they really care about you…give you the whole nine yards.” A conversation with a friend already attending WKU further solidified her decision.

MJ's decision to join the CFP was influenced by an email from Melinda Edgerton, the program manager. MJ recalled, “I had an idea to study Chinese or Arabic, and then I got her email and realized WKU has an amazing program.” Despite having some foreign language experience from high school, learning Chinese was a significant adjustment, especially as she was also pursuing a Spanish minor. MJ described this challenging experience as, “My brain is on fire. I'm trying to learn how the sounds even work while taking a higher-level composition course in Spanish.”

Ultimately, MJ decided to drop her Spanish minor to focus on improving her Chinese. She credited her success to the support from her peers and CFP faculty. “A lot of people in my freshman year class had high school experience, but I was still keeping up with them. That motivated me to think, ‘Hey, even though you have no background, you're doing pretty well.’ My Chinese teachers have been incredibly supportive, cheering for even small achievements and helping me overcome mistakes. Their support kept me going through the challenging parts of learning the language.”

Following her first year in the CFP program, MJ completed the 8-week summer intensive language bootcamp hosted by Indiana University, which was held online in summer 2021. “School was from 8AM to about 4PM, and you had a lecture and a drill class, and then you had a break for lunch, and during that lunch you could talk one-on-one with teachers if you wanted, and then you had another lecture class in the afternoon, and the afternoon lecture was followed by cultural experiences.”

Despite the program being online rather than in person, it helped MJ transition into 300-level Chinese coursework in her sophomore year. In the summer of 2022, she attended a 3-month summer language intensive program, the International Chinese Language Program (ICLP), enhancing her speaking, reading, and writing competencies through small-group and one-on-one practice. This program gives Flagship students across all participating programs in the U.S. their first experience of applying their classroom teachings into the real world.

“The program does a great job of fast tracking your language ability, but it’s definitely a lot of stress, because you have 3 months to figure out how Taiwan works, but it was a fun time. We definitely got our three months worth. WKU’s Flagship can hold its own against their other sister programs in the U.S.”

Prior to this 3-month experience, MJ had not studied abroad, and while she had some travel experience through family trips in the U.S. and Canada, her family bolstered her confidence by supporting her decision. Although this first trip started on a rocky note, including COVID isolation protocol upon arrival and hidden costs that were not budgeted for, MJ embraced the challenges.  

“I spent 7 days in quarantine and you have to take your temperature daily. You watch TV to kind of get a sense of culture, and I had a window [in my room], so I was watching people, and I was watching how the traffic works. And so, I was getting an idea of culture just by watching.”

Reflecting on her journey at WKU and in the CFP, MJ expressed gratitude for the supportive community. During her first year, she bonded with peers in the Chinese Flagship LLC, sharing meals, attending classes, and studying together, which was especially important during the pandemic. She appreciated the CFP faculty's dedication, particularly Dr. Ke Peng, who fostered a family-like environment and went above and beyond to support students, even sacrificing winter break to help them prepare for exams.

The faculty's encouragement extended beyond the CFP. It helped MJ take advantage of undergraduate research opportunities and complete an honors thesis. “Sociology requires understanding before solving problems, and this approach in my classes pushed me to explore meaningful research topics. I took Honors 404 and initially planned a thesis on Taiwan but chose to study sexual minorities in the church, a topic that motivated me more.”

While graduate school is a distant interest, MJ looks forward to perfecting her Chinese and fulfilling her one-year obligatory service with the federal government, a requirement for Boren recipients. Though her intended federal agency remains undisclosed, she is excited about the opportunities her Chinese fluency will bring, including work with non-profit agencies, translation, and policy think-tanks.

As MJ bids farewell to WKU, she reflects that “I kind of unlocked, I guess I would say, a new version of myself. I participated in hackathons where we brainstorm with people on apps or problems and that really taught me to see new things, travel and be independent…and that I can do that, and I'll be fine. No matter where I go, like I can pack a bag, and I'll be okay. So that was kind of a confidence booster, and also a new sense of independence…. Push those little boundaries so that you can grow and in that growth you get a sense of achievement, and [you] come back refreshed with new energy and more diversity to your learning.”

As MJ embarks on her next chapter, her journey serves as a powerful testament to the transformative impact of dedication, community support, and seizing opportunities. From navigating the challenges of learning a new language to thriving in immersive cultural experiences, MJ’s story highlights the resilience and adaptability that honors involvement can cultivate. Her achievements at WKU, bolstered by the Chinese Flagship Program and the support of dedicated faculty, have not only equipped her with valuable skills but also instilled a profound sense of independence and confidence. As she looks forward to her service with the federal government and beyond, MJ's journey continues to inspire, demonstrating that with determination and support, the possibilities are boundless.