Steven Benathen

Where do I even begin? I think my heart may have stopped when I saw the Project Bridge flier in my classroom this past October. I had actually always wanted to visit Korea (there’s a subculture of Korea-heads in my school) and seeing that flier was a stroke of luck. I got even luckier when I was offered a spot in this year’s New York City group. I thought I was going to plotz (Yiddish for passing out) when Rebecca called me. Luckily I didn’t and now, if you will, I’ll let you get to know me a little better.
For starters my name is Steven Benathen and I was born in Brooklyn, New York. I have lived here all my life. It’s a real immigrant hotbed, but then again, so is all of New York City. I’m of Eastern European descent (Russia, Belarus, Poland and Hungary) and I’m Jewish, but I’m familiar with the many different types of ethnic groups here in Brooklyn. Just in my high school I’ve come across students from every continent (well, not Antarctica) and many different faiths. We all manage to bond however and I have to say, it’s nothing short of beautiful.
I have a lot of interests that I explore both inside and outside of school. I love to write and would like to make that my career. I work as an editor for my high school’s literary magazine and I have taken some writing classes at school and over the summer. I play golf on my high school’s team. I really like music and I play the oboe and clarinet. I also have an interest in theatre and I’m currently doing some video editing and writing for my school’s spring production, as well as acting in it.
It’s no small coincidence, I think, that many of my interests are also popular in Korea. Golf is huge there. I would like to be a screenwriter and Korea is a true powerhouse (and art house for that matter) when it comes to film.  And did I forget to mention spicy food is my ambrosia?
On a more somber note, I identify with Koreans because of World War II. Being that I’m Jewish I know what it means to have the cultural legacy of being a butchered people. The Japanese massacred the Koreans just as the Germans did the Jews. What unites us is our strength in overcoming these atrocities. Jews and Koreans are both people of great strength who have managed to bounce back from these hardships and develop strong futures for their people.
As I write this, visions of our trip are dancing in my head like sugar plum fairies: except they’re much cooler and are probably more like Samsung-video-phone-using, Hyundai-sports-car-driving, Kimchi-eating fairies. I will reiterate how I feel in a simple sentence: I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS TRIP!

Stephanie Cabral

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”    ~George Eliot

When I wake up every morning there’s only one thing on my mind, my future. It’s a big deal when you’re the oldest of three children and are setting an example. Project Bridge gives me the opportunity to take another step forward, towards my future.
Hi, I’m Stephanie Cabral, and I’m 16 years-old. I’m a junior at the In-Tech Academy. I live in the Bronx, where you can make anything happen. I’m an active member in my community and enjoy helping people in need. Being apart of Project Bridge is an honor. I hope to take this experience with me wherever I go.

Henry Gu

My name is Henry Gu. I was born and raised in New York’s Chinatown. My life mostly revolves around my academics, seeing how it’s the only thing that will grant me a ticket toward a better quality of life and validate the sacrifices that my mom has made for me. My hobbies and interests are endless. It depends on what I’m presented with.  If I’m presented with mathematics, I become interested in how to find a solution to a given problem. If I’m presented with global history, I become interested on why certain things had to happen and why specific civilizations adopted certain cultural traits.
However, I do have strong interests in the following fields: military science, weapons science, political science, international relations, psychology and military sports (sport shooting, archery, etc.). I can be a very outgoing person when I’m familiar with the person or group that I am interacting with.  Usually it doesn’t take long for me to get adjusted. 
I applied to Project Bridge because of the experience I gain not just from learning about other cultures, but actually immersing myself in them. In the past I’ve been to Beijing, on mainland China as well as Rome, Italy and Paris, France. Korea will be the best trip experience yet!

Vasudha Gupta

My name is Vasudha Gupta and I hail from Queens, New York. I was born in New Delhi, India, but have been living in New York since I was six.  As a junior in Forest Hills High School, I founded my school’s Math Team and am actively involved in Key Club and bioresearch.  In the future, I hope to go into either biology or economic development, or a combination of them both.  My interests include debating, Kathak classical dance, and running.  I am honored that Project Bridge has given me this opportunity to meet some extraordinary people and learn Korean, which I hope to become fluent in one day.  I will make the most of this opportunity and will remember the experience forever.

Lanna Leite

I’ve lived my life between two cultures. Born and raised in the Big Apple I experienced culture shock when I left this country to live in Brazil for a year and eight months. I left for Brazil when I was around 13, due to certain unfavorable circumstances here in the States. Although my mother is Brazilian, I had never really understood much about the culture or the people since I was involved in the American way of life. Going to diverse public schools, I had befriended other New Yorkers who were Brazilian, yet they were Brazilian people who were doing their best to assimilate to the culture of New York.
While the first months in Brazil were quite tumultuous, it would soon become a place I would call home and a place where I would learn many life lessons. Besides learning a plethora of things in school, and in daily life, I was given the opportunity to teach English as a foreign language in the city of Sao Bernardo. Although I was blessed with certain resources in Brazil, I realized what a vast land of opportunity I had left behind. Upon returning to the U.S., I’ve gotten involved in just about any school activity that deals with social issues, politics or law. I have witnessed too many injustices in Brazil and have seen too much ignorance both there and, surprisingly, here, to refrain from getting involved. I aspire to work in the State Department and perhaps serve as America’s ambassador to a Latin American country.
When I heard about Project Bridge, I was sure that I would fit in with others who are curious and eager to learn about another culture. Being selected as a Project Bridge Youth Ambassador to Korea has been a true blessing. Exploring the topics of race and culture both here and in Korea has opened my mind. I simply cannot wait to step off the plane in Korea!

Alex Muir

My name is Alex Muir and I am a senior at Flushing High School. My school is located in a predominantly Asian area, but students don’t really interact with community members. I chose to apply to Project Bridge because I wanted to know more about the culture I was paying too little attention to, yet one that seems destined for great global influence.
At Flushing High School I am a member of the boys’ varsity basketball team and captain of the mock trial team. I also try to take an active role in my community, Springfield Gardens, by volunteering. I work as an unpaid intern at Councilman James Sanders Jr.’s office and as an usher at Hollis Presbyterian Church.
This is not my first time traveling abroad as I spent fourth grade on the island of Jamaica and have made two trips to Canada. However, it was easy for me to adapt to these two places as they are dominated by American culture and I was surrounded by family. Korea is a new land. I have no connections there, and that only makes it more appealing.

Karla Perez

My name is Alex Muir and I am a senior at Flushing High School. My school is located in a predominantly Asian area, but students don’t really interact with community members. I chose to apply to Project Bridge because I wanted to know more about the culture I was paying too little attention to, yet one that seems destined for great global influence.
At Flushing High School I am a member of the boys’ varsity basketball team and captain of the mock trial team. I also try to take an active role in my community, Springfield Gardens, by volunteering. I work as an unpaid intern at Councilman James Sanders Jr.’s office and as an usher at Hollis Presbyterian Church.
This is not my first time traveling abroad as I spent fourth grade on the island of Jamaica and have made two trips to Canada. However, it was easy for me to adapt to these two places as they are dominated by American culture and I was surrounded by family. Korea is a new land. I have no connections there, and that only makes it more appealing.

Alyssa Wheeler

It can be hard to face the future, but once you appreciate the promise that the future holds, it gets easier to make big decisions.  The actions we take now will create the future.  We have to remember that we only live once and that we grow from our mistakes.
These are a few of the maxims I live by.
My name is Alyssa Wheeler and I’m a senior at Franklin K. Lane High School.  I’m easygoing, friendly, outgoing, curious, focused, and outspoken.  I’m the middle child of seven, and my mother has raised me to very open-minded about lives and the beliefs of others.  Though I was born in New York I was raised in California, then I lived in Georgia for two years, and now I’m back in New York.  I am a mix of five different races: my mother is African American, Cherokee Indian, French and Irish, while my father is pure Dominican. I was raised by my mother and I consider myself to be a child of today’s modern world, ready to explore new surroundings.  I value diversity and feel that’s what makes our nation so unique and special.
I enjoy a variety of things. I love tennis, volleyball, debating and helping my peers.  When I’m with my friends I’m the goofy-yet-level-headed one. Sometimes I feel like a preacher.  It’s really hard for me to hang out with friends because I’m always so busy.
 I’m definitely going to college once I graduate, but I haven’t decided on a major.  I’m interested in many different fields of study and when I go to college I look forward discovering my true passion. Thank you, Project Bridge for assisting me in looking outside of the box.