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Student Spotlight

Featured Student Brian Young

Brian Anthony Young

Senior, Japanese (Individualized Major)/Physics

"My high school was IUPUI."

When Brian was as young as thirteen, he took a computer programming class at an IUPUI summer camp. A camp counselor told him about the campus' SPAN program through which students get dual credit for high school and college while completing courses at the university. So, by the time Brian became a "real" IUPUI student, he was a step ahead and already had earned 41 credit hours.

To some, Brian's two majors-Japanese and Physics-may seem as unusual as his choice of a high school. It's a perfect pairing for Brian.

What could be better than focusing on both of his personal passions while working toward his ultimate goal of doing physics research and living in Japan. And, Brian says, "If you're really interested in the classes you're taking, you'll learn more, do better, and be happier."

Last year, Brian continued to deepen his connection with all things Japanese by studying abroad at Hakuoh University in Oyama City, forty-five miles northwest of Tokyo, where he participated in an exchange program that also sends Hakuoh students to IUPUI and Liberal Arts to study English.

Taking advantage of every opportunity offered, he not only honed language fluency but also traveled throughout Japan, with a side trip to Taiwan; attended ASEAN-Japan Center educational activities as well as local political meeetings; and taught English conversational skills in private sessions and at three schools. Though immersed in Japanese society, he met students from every continent. After celebrating his 19th birthday in Japan, Brian is now back at IUPUI to complete his senior year.

Whether it's watching anime, gaming, or studying atmospheric physics and electromagnetism, for Brian, the world is his college, and he's not about to stop studying.