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When Selma Naciri, an 18-year-old scholar at Bosung Women’ Excessive College in Seoul’s Yongsan District, introduces herself, her title usually prompts curiosity because it doesn’t sound Korean.
Born to a Moroccan father who later grew to become a Korean citizen and a Korean mom, Naciri hopes to bridge the 2 worlds that formed her: Korea, the place she was born and raised, and Morocco, the nation mirrored in her surname.
“I need to turn out to be a diplomat who can contribute to sustainable growth that advantages each Korea and Morocco,” Naciri mentioned in an interview with The Korea Occasions. “Drawing on my multicultural background and years of navigating completely different cultures and languages, I need to function a bridge between the 2 international locations.”
Naciri’s ambition — and the explanation she selected diplomacy — is rooted in her upbringing. Her experiences navigating a number of cultures and languages have given her a transparent sense of goal and the trail she hopes to observe.
Born in Itaewon, considered one of Seoul’s most cosmopolitan neighborhoods, she grew up amongst pals from many alternative backgrounds. “Speaking with them uncovered me to varied cultures, and I discovered that attention-grabbing. I felt these cultures naturally mixing amongst my pals. That’s once I first dreamed of changing into a diplomat.”
What she hopes to pursue as a diplomat grew to become clearer by her experiences in Morocco. By way of about 10 visits, Naciri noticed the stark disparities between main cities and rural areas.
“Regional balanced growth is considered one of Morocco’s key challenges,” Naciri mentioned, including that city areas are quickly upgrading infrastructure forward of main occasions just like the 2030 World Cup, whereas many rural areas proceed to lag behind.
These observations helped her when she represented Morocco at her faculty’s Mannequin United Nations convention.
Whereas getting ready, she researched official growth help (ODA) and understood that worldwide cooperation is formed not solely by governments but additionally by companies.
Naciri believes that Korea’s ODA to Morocco might assist the North African nation strengthen its function as a bridge between Africa and Europe and help extra balanced regional growth, whereas giving Korea a chance to diversify its commerce construction.
“Seeing Korea battle within the U.S.–China commerce warfare confirmed me how weak a rustic turns into when its financial system depends upon only a few main powers,” Naciri mentioned. “It made me assume that Korea must broaden its horizons extra towards areas like Central Asia or Africa — and that Morocco, which is very open to receiving ODA, might turn out to be a key participant in that shift.”
Selma Naciri, winner of the grand prize on the 14th World Korea Awards, poses at Bosung Lady’s Excessive College in Yongsan District, central Seoul, Monday. Korea Occasions picture by Shim Hyun-chul
Naciri is set to turn out to be a diplomat who can advance these objectives, drawing on her expertise navigating a number of languages and cultures.
Her father speaks Korean however nonetheless thinks in Arabic, and the refined gaps in his Korean typically result in misunderstandings together with her mom, a local speaker. Naciri mentioned she realized to note these nuances and infrequently stepped in to clean over the ensuing moments of stress.
These moments additionally taught her that language carries the core of a tradition’s values and methods of pondering.
“For instance, Arabic has the expression ‘inshallah,’ which implies entrusting what we do to God,” Naciri mentioned. “Even a easy phrase like that displays the humility and values embedded within the tradition.”
Her skill to navigate refined linguistic nuances grew to become a key power as a category consultant, serving to her learn classmates’ feelings and foster smoother communication.
“Naciri suits naturally into any group and brings good vitality to these round her. She additionally makes certain nobody feels overlooked,” her homeroom instructor Kim Hye-jin mentioned.
Kim added that early within the semester, when college students had been nonetheless awkward with each other, Naciri advised sharing encouraging phrases throughout morning homeroom — an initiative that confirmed her dedication to the category.
Her intuition to know others extends to problems with id.
Naciri grew to become conscious of the id challenges confronted by these rising up between cultures early in her life. She recalled a buddy of Korean and Australian heritage who felt misplaced in each international locations as a result of her look didn’t match both aspect — a vivid reminder of how simply folks straddling cultures can really feel they don’t totally belong.
Naciri believes that such blended identities are a power.
“Individuals rising up between cultures usually face id questions — whether or not to decide on their father’s nationality or their mom’s, and the place they belong,” Naciri mentioned. “However they don’t want to select one. Each identities can coexist and turn out to be a power.”
“In at the moment’s international period, embracing either side is way extra highly effective than limiting your self to 1,” she added.
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