Schafer, who is graduating this semester, interviewed with a five-person selection commission at the German consulate in Los Angeles on Oct. 13. He received an acceptance letter on Oct. 22, making him one of 120 people awarded internationally.
“That week and a half was the longest time of my life,” Schafer said. “It was kind of a small envelope, so I thought it was going to be a rejection notice. I opened it and couldn’t believe it.”
Schafer sent his application, written entirely in German, in June. The application required a résumé, a letter of motivation, transcripts, letters of recommendation and a certificate of German fluency.
Nele Hempel-Lamer, undergraduate adviser of the German department, recommended Schafer for the scholarship and advised him to apply.
“Justin Schafer is the first student of mine to receive an International Parliamentary Scholarship in the 12 years I have taught,” Hempel-Lamer said. “He has a keen interest in politics, but was also quick in acquiring advanced language skills in German.”
Schafer will spend 15 weeks interning for a member of the German National Parliament. The opportunity provides accommodation, insurance and travel expenses, as well as a pay of 450 euros per month, according to the German Bundestag website.
Schafer had been interested in the scholarship for a while, but requirements dictate that candidates have to have knowledge of the German language and a college degree.
“[Hempel-Lamer] gave me a brochure for it and said, ‘I think you’d be perfect for this’ in early 2008,” Schafer said. “She wrote a letter of recommendation and advised me. I owe a lot to her.”
Schafer also secured a two-month internship through the State Department beginning in January at the United States embassy in Berlin. He will be working for the Public Affairs Department with media analysis and public relations. He said he will stay in Berlin since his internship for the International Parliamentary Scholarship will begin directly after.
Schafer previously traveled to Germany in 2007 for a month-long intensive language school. He has since made two brief stops during separate study abroad trips.
He said his interest in German comes from a car model — the Volkswagen Thing, a small military vehicle that was sold in the U.S. for a brief period of time.
“It was considered unsafe to drive, but I fell in love with Volkswagen,” Schafer said. “I used to buy old VW manuals in English and German, and I picked up a few words.”
Schafer eventually bought a VW Notchback, a vehicle that was never mass imported to the U.S. He keeps it in his hometown of Redding, Calif., where he spends a lot of time working on his car, as well as fishing and shooting.
Schafer plans to apply for graduate school, hoping to earn a master’s degree in German Language or European Studies. His top choice of a post-graduate school would be Georgetown, as he would love to be in the Washington, D.C., area.
He said his experience with the International Parliamentary Scholarship will prepare him for graduate school.
Schafer said, “I’m looking forward to the chance to forge new relationships, develop myself, and learn more about my passionate interests.”
Disclaimer: The Daily 49er is not responsible for Postings made on www.daily49er.wpengine.com. Persons commenting are solely responsible for Postings made on this website. Persons commenting agree to the Terms of Use of the website. If Postings do not abide by the Rules of Conduct or Posting Regulations as listed in the Postings Policy, the Daily 49er has all rights to delete Postings as it deems necessary. The Daily 49er strongly advises individuals to not abuse their First Amendment rights, and to avoid language suggestive of hate speech. This site also encourages users to make Postings relevant to the article or other Postings.