An economics senior is spending a gap year teaching English in South Korea before attending graduate school.
Elizabeth Edem plans to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in international and comparative education. But first, she will spend a year in South Korea teaching English to underprivileged students.
“Eventually, I want to help restructure school systems so that more students are given the chance they deserve,” Edem said.
It will not be the first time Edem has traveled overseas. She attended the OCU Doers Cultural Exchange trip to Taiwan in 2017. There she spent two weeks teaching middle and high school-aged children and teenagers about advancements in technology.
“There was a typhoon our last few days in Taiwan,” Edem said. “Instead of staying in our hostel, a few of us went out to make the most of our time. We ended up on gondolas with the winds blowing and the rain pouring down on our cable car while it was suspended in the air. It was terrifying, amazing and so worth it.”
Janelle Warlick, director of academic operations in Petree College of Art and Sciences, attended the trip to Taiwan with Edem.
“Elizabeth is an incredibly hard worker,” Warlick said. “She dove in head first and worked on things for the kids, even when everyone else headed to the beach. She is very driven and prepared, just a really kind soul.”
Edem is involved with many on-campus organizations, including the National Society of Leadership and Success, Meinder’s School of Business Undergraduate Investment Team, Meinder’s School of Business DECA Collegiate Chapter, and a brief stint on the Student Ethics and Debate team.
In her spare time, she enjoys making lo-fi music, writing novels and coaching volleyball at Rosary Catholic School in Oklahoma City.
“I write at least one novel a year,” Edem said.
Edem said her favorite thing about OCU is the liberal arts seminar and the honors junior-senior seminar.
“I know it’s probably weird that my favorite part was those specific classes,” she said. “But I realized I really love the discussions that take place in seminar courses because they usually help me rethink a concept or go more in depth on a surface-level opinion, so those two courses have stayed with me and will likely continue to stay with me long after I’ve left OCU.”
Edem said she is grateful for the opportunities she was given at OCU.
“I can’t help but remember that I almost ended up in California for university,” Edem said.
“I’m glad I stayed in Oklahoma,” she said. “I learned a lot about myself and made some great friends along the way. There are a lot of things I don’t think I would have done had I not gone to OCU.”
Dr. Jonathan Willner, professor of economics, said Edem will continue to do great things long after graduation.
“Whatever you may know about her abilities and performance undoubtedly understates what she has, can and will accomplish,” Willner said.
Edem said she is excited about the future.
“On one hand, it’s kind of weird to think about graduating, but on the other hand, I’m looking forward to starting the next chapter in the magnum opus that is my life,” Edem said.
“I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished here, and I hope that I can be an alum OCU is proud of,” Edem said.
By Staff Writer Dru Norton
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