Hello, my name is Desta Chery and I am currently a junior at High Tech High in San Diego, California. I am excited to share that I was accepted to participate in a study abroad program in South Korea this summer. The program I was accepted into is hosted by a nonprofit intercultural exchange organization called CIEE, and during my 3 weeks abroad with the organization, I will explore the nation's capital of Seoul through historical sites and museums which will allow me to experience Korean art, food, and culture (specifically K-pop) through an educational lens. I will also listen to lectures from professionals in the Korean music and entertainment industry, including music producers, songwriters, choreographers, and critics, and learn more about Korean customs, culture, and values. This program lasts three weeks and starts at the end of my junior year of high school. I have been a straight-A student throughout my entire academic career and I completed my junior year of high school with an A+ in all of my honors classes. Over the summer of 2022, I made a short film titled “Crown”, which is about Black women and Black hair, and used this film to highlight our shared experiences with our hair, from struggles to joy to bonding, and to self-love and care. This film has been screened at multiple festivals, including the San Diego Asian Film Festival, the Chicago International Film Festival, and the Do It Your Damn Self (DIYDS) National Youth Festival in Boston, where I will be on a panel with other teen filmmakers and my film will be played at MIT and Harvard. Additionally, I am currently interning at a sustainable slow fashion business and sewing studio called SewLoka, which is located in Barrio Logan in San Diego. SewLoka is a WOC-owned small business that has been recognized nationally, as a leader in not only the San Diego community but the slow fashion industry as a whole. During the program, I will be recording my experience and I hope to make a short film with the footage I collect when I return home. I will document my trip mainly on Instagram, and with a semi-professional video camera I would like to acquire. I also hope to use this experience to further my research into the K-pop industry and write an essay on K-pop’s roots in African American music and culture. I am starting this fundraiser to raise needed funds for some of the things I will use during the program, which include: a semi-professional video camera for me to record my journey, a hard drive and video data cards to save the footage, an international SIM card or international phone plan (which I’ll need for home communication during the trip), any unexpected costs that may arise. I am hopeful and look forward to gaining any financial assistance you may offer in order to defray some of the travel costs. After I come back from this trip, I will be in my senior year of high school, when I will be starting the college admissions process. I’ve always been interested in other cultures and want to major in Ethnic Studies in college. The experience I gain on this trip will broaden my horizons and launch the start of my new learning journey. I’m really looking forward to this program and all of the lessons, new ideas, and knowledge I will gain from it. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to take part in this program, and I need your help to make it come true. Here is a link to my short film “Crown.”: Crown. (2022) Directed, Produced, Edited, and Shot by Desta Chery https://vimeo.com/803343592/f52d66a6f6 I will be documenting my experience on my Instagram account, @xo.destaaa !! Thank you so much for your support. I am eternally grateful. Truly anything helps, and all support is dear to my heart. Thank you! With love, Desta Chery