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S. Koreans express pride, surprise at pope visit

By WTOP Staff

YOUKYUNG LEE
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — They came from across South Korea to see Pope Francis or, if the crowds were too big to get close enough, to hear his voice emanate from speakers set up around a stage during a Mass to beatify 124 martyrs.

The massive crowd — an estimated 800,000 — packed a long, broad avenue that runs perpendicular to the iconic Gwanghwamun Gate, spilling into side streets and stretching for blocks away from the stage. They fanned themselves in the humid, hazy weather. There was high emotion, including vows to make life changes, pride that South Korea was receiving such global attention, frustration at not seeing Francis’ face and surprise at his humble manner. Here are some of their voices:

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“I’m so thankful that the pope visited South Korea,” said Yu Pil-sang, 75, a Catholic who stood just outside a police barricade that kept her from entering the main plaza. “But I’m so sorry that all the ways to see the pope are blocked. I came to hear at least his voice.”

“The pope emphasizes love, and I have to see him. I feel so bad,” Yu said, pointing out police officers who were keeping those without passes out of the main viewing area.

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“It was memorable to see him riding in a small car, how he brought himself to a lower place and how he tried to listen to people,” said Eom Yae-sung, 49, a Protestant. “I don’t know much about Catholics and South Korea’s Catholic history, but it seems that the pope is making sure to reach out equally to everyone.”

Eom said the pope had inspired her to make changes in her life.

“I plan to do volunteering and a lot of sharing so that when I look back at my life 10 years from now, I will think that the pope’s visit motivated me to change,” Eom said. “As I saw the pope, I thought I should not live my life the way I’m living it now. I used to have a lot of plans, but I’ve been terrible at putting them into practice.”

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“Regardless of one’s religion, the pope is a great figure to all Koreans,” said Kwon Hyuk-mo, 60, a Protestant. “He approaches people in lower places with love. … He says we should accept other religions and not stubbornly insist on one’s own religion.”

He said he wished young South Koreans would take the pope’s message of addressing inequality to heart.

“South Korea is on its way to becoming an advanced country, and we have enjoyed a lot of material benefits in a short time. But in my generation, we did not deal well with the gap between the rich and the poor. Through his visit, I hope the future generations will deal with it better.”

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“Usually I resist messages about removing the gap between the rich and the poor because I’m from an older generation,” said Lee Min-ha, 44, a Catholic who came to see the pope with her middle school daughter. “In South Korea right now, money controls everything. But he says people with the means should share with the poor. It made me think that maybe we have been too selfish and have thought only of ourselves.

“He asked us to share, and I’ve come to think that it’s necessary. The divide between the haves and the have-nots is so deep in South Korea now. (His visit) is a chance to take preventative measures against that and to bring down the wall for South Korea.”

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“A lot of people are suffering these days,” said Sohn Kwan-young, 31, an electronics company worker. “But we saw him humbling himself with people who are suffering, and I think he is providing a huge consolation to the South Korean public.”

Sohn was particularly struck by the pope’s treatment of the relatives of some of the 304 people killed when a South Korean ferry sank in April. “I was greatly moved when I saw him warmly embracing the families of the Sewol ferry victims who were ignored by South Korea’s government.”

He said other religious leaders in South Korea should learn from the pope, especially from his emphasis on caring for the poor and underprivileged.

“Life is busy, but I’ve come to think that I should take better care of socially underprivileged people and my neighbors,” Sohn said.

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“I came to see even his face,” said Bae Doa, 17, a high school student and a Protestant. “He seems very humble. He doesn’t ride in a very good car and he takes a train instead of a helicopter. From such a high place, he discarded it all to come down to a low place. It really looks good.”

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“Even though I’m not a Catholic, I feel proud that the pope visited South Korea,” said Kim Eung-joo, 15, a high school student who came with two friends. “It does not happen often in other countries. South Korea is amazing.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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