Siena College
09/26/2025 | News release | Archived content
Saints Around the World: Seoul, South Korea
Sep 26, 2025
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Sherrice Branch '27 (above, right) loved her mom for saying it, even if she didn't believe her. Branch's mom earnestly told her - and meant it - that they would find a way to get her to Seoul regardless of the scholarship. But the truth? It all depended on the essay.
Branch has a fascination for Korean culture. She loves K-dramas, which are TV shows produced in South Korea. Branch will typically watch an episode with the sub-titles the first time, but when she re-watches the show, she's got the plot, so the words don't matter. In fact, sometimes she'd rather not know the words.
"Especially when it comes to music, I feel like it has the power to transcend language. Sometimes I'll listen to a K-pop song and then look up the lyrics, and I'm like, 'Why are the words so sad when the music is upbeat!' And then sometimes you can just feel what's happening without words."
When Branch decided to explore study abroad options, her affinity for K-dramas and K-pop pulled her toward South Korea. Plus, the English education major intends to pursue her master's in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), so there's a professional advantage to studying and immersing herself in a culture where English isn't the first language.
The Fund for Education Abroad provides scholarships and support for students with financial need who face barriers to studying abroad. Branch learned about the scholarship in Siena's Study Abroad office, and the department staff also helped Branch craft her application essay. The scholarship was for $5,000 and it would be the difference between a life-changing international adventure or not. So, when it came to the essay, Branch put it all out there with nothing to lose:
"As the oldest daughter of a single mother, I've always been highly conscious of finances. After my twin sister's mental health scare, that awareness deepened - I downplayed my achievements and made choices based solely on what was least burdensome for my family. I felt it was my role to make things easier for them - to stay in the background so my mother and grandmother could focus their energy on my sister. Transferring to Siena was a sacrifice I made to ease their stress, but in doing so, I realized I had been moving through life on autopilot, ignoring what once excited me. It's time to break that cycle."
And she did. Branch earned the $5,000 scholarship which she applied to airfare, tuition, and program fees. She arrived at Korea University on August 24 and is enjoying the experience of a lifetime. She's already splashed in the ocean at Haeundae Beach, South Korea's most famous beach, and went looking for the House of Puppies in the Gamcheon Culture Village (it's misleading, she discovered - there were no puppies).
"I've never really done a lot for myself. I'll be 21 in a few weeks. I always wanted to study abroad, and this was me taking some initiative and doing something I wanted to do. This is my chance to be present in my own life, and prove to myself that I'm capable. I've worked hard, and I've struggled. And now I'm here."
And that's a message Branch wants to share with every Saint, especially a student who may not - yet - have the confidence to pursue studying abroad.
"I came here with no one, but you can be brave and find your niche. Don't go somewhere because it's close, go somewhere for yourself. I'm getting the pure joy out of this experience. If you're scared to go to another country alone, don't be. Other people are in the same situation, and you'll find them there."
Siena College published this content on September 26, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 29, 2025 at 17:21 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]