Nicola Kalderash, MS ‘22, BS ‘21, BA ‘21, reflects back on the life-changing experience of studying abroad in Taiwan during his studies at the University of Washington.
Nicola Kalderash is a cybersecurity professional at Boeing. He earned a Master of Science in Information Management and a Bachelor of Science in Informatics with a concentration in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with a concentration in China and Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, National Security & Peace from the University of Washington. Prior to the University of Washington, he earned his Associate of Arts in General Studies at Seattle Central College.
In 2016, during his studies at Seattle Central College, he was awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad in Shanghai, China. In 2019, during his studies at the University of Washington, he was awarded the Robert N. Chang Foundation scholarship to study abroad in Taipei, Taiwan.
Studying in Taiwan
Nicola chose to study at the International Chinese Language Program at National Taiwan University to complete the language requirement for his Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. He opted to go to Taipei for the entire summer to take part in an intensive language program to advance his Mandarin language skills. After studying in China, Nicola was curious to learn more about the culture and history of Taiwan.
Studying at National Taiwan University was an intense, competitive learning environment. After taking a difficult placement exam that assessed his oral and written Mandarin skills, he signed a language pledge that he wasn’t going to speak English while in class. Throughout the program, Nicola studied Mandarin one-on-one with his teacher in the mornings and then practiced Mandarin with a small language class of just four students in the afternoons. None of the other students in his cohort were from the University of Washington.
Outside of the classroom, Nicola took advantage of an internship opportunity with a cloud startup company. He helped the company to create a comprehensive security manual, ranging from what to do in the event of an emergency to establishing standard practices for formatting code. Nicola also had the spontaneous opportunity to be featured in an interview about cross-cultural romance that was shared widely across China and Taiwan.
On the weekends, Nicola explored Taipei and took trips to discover new areas across Taiwan, from beaches to temples to waterfalls. He enjoyed taking the train, exploring the sights and sounds and learning about the culture and history of Taiwan.
By the end of the program, I always tell people that it was evident how much I had learned. I not only gave my final presentation entirely in Mandarin, but on the way to the airport I had a full conversation with the taxi driver in Mandarin. It was clear to me just how much I had grown and learned since I stepped foot off the plane in Taipei a few months before.
When Nicola realized he wanted to study abroad in Taiwan, he knew it was going to be expensive. So he researched all of the scholarships that he could find. After seeking guidance from the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, Nicola applied for a Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship Program and for a Robert N. Chang Foundation scholarship. With the support of those two funding sources, as well as financial aid, it ended up being feasible for him to study abroad in Taiwan for the summer.
Studying in Taiwan helped Nicola step outside of his comfort zone. It made him more aware of the privileges of American citizens. He also walked away with a greater appreciation of different cultures.
I strongly believe that it’s worth the time and effort to apply for scholarship opportunities because it can open up doors to see the world and learn about other cultures. Traveling the world and seeing other countries gives you a better sense of who you are.
Giving Back
Now that Nicola is a working professional, he is finding opportunities to give back. During his graduate studies at the UW, he was the chapter president of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), an international nonprofit organization that advocates for professionals in the information security, assurance, risk management and governance industries. After receiving a scholarship from ISACA for foundational cybersecurity skills as a graduate student, Nicola is now taking the lead to create a new scholarship opportunity from ISACA. The scholarship is available to juniors, seniors and graduate students who attend a university in the Puget Sound area. The winner and runner-up of the innovative scholarship will receive cash awards to pay for a certification of their choosing as well as their student membership fee.
I was really blessed and thankful for all of the scholarships I received during my undergraduate and graduate studies. It’s really important for me to give back. It’s all about a virtuous circle.
The Robert N. Chang Foundation
The Robert N. Chang Foundation was named after Robert N. Chang, a University of Washington alumnus who bequeathed his wealth in the form of his family foundation. The foundation is currently managed by his nephew, Allan Liu, and wife Mei-Lee Liu. Historically, Robert N. Chang Foundation scholarships have been granted to incoming or outgoing students from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan.