Maddie Walters

Staff Writer

For most high schools students, taking a foreign language class is an experience we’d never like to repeat. The amount of effort it takes to try and learn a new language at this point in anyone’s life is difficult; a fact science has proven. But for senior Kit Howeth, the difficulty of learning a new language and appreciating a unique culture is a siren’s song.

Most native English speaking students choose to study any of the “romance languages” which are based off of the same Latin used in our own language, thereby making it easier.  Howeth, however, embarked on the journey of mastering the language of Japanese.

According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the U.S. Department of State, Japanese is one of the five hardest languages for a native English speaker to learn. This daunting title doesn’t even begin to daunt Howeth due to her love of the language and the culture.

“In middle school I had friends who spoke Japanese all the time and I loved listening to them,” Howeth said. “I love everything about their culture, from the cute pencils to the politeness and respect for elders.”

Anyone who is friends with Howeth is more than aware of her love for languages. Junior Christina Portillo, who shares Howeth’s passion for foreign languages, thinks Howeth will be able to grow as a Japanese major.

“[Languages] have opened the door for a want to travel and study abroad for Kit,” Portillo said. “After finishing French, she wanted to go to France. With Japanese, she wants to learn the language and immerse herself in the culture. Her dream has been to teach English in Japan since I met her, and I think that if she wants to accomplish that goal she will put in the effort to get it.”

As Portillo stated, Howeth’s dream job is to become an English teacher in Japan. Like most of us bright-eyed, bushy-tailed youngsters, Howeth wants to travel around the world, see new things, and experience the many cultures the world has to offer. But while for many of us this dream often remains merely a dream, Howeth plans to take action by majoring in Japanese and studying abroad during college.

“[I] definitely [plan on studying abroad during college],” Howeth said. “Lyon College has a program for students during their junior year where they can take a semester or a year abroad in any of three countries, one of them being Japan. When I heard about it I was like, ‘Sign me up for Japan!’”

Howeth’s fascination with foreign languages has been alive since middle school when she experience foreign languages such as Spanish and Korean on a daily basis thanks to friends.

“To me, English has always sounded too choppy,” Howeth said. “Whenever I heard any of my friends speaking Spanish or Korean it sounded like music to me; it was like their own secret code and I wanted to be a part of it.”

Along with the overall beauty of the language, Howeth finds herself fascinated by the Japanese culture, mainly through the ‘cutesy’ accessories such as pencils and bags.  In fact, if you see Howeth in the hallway, you will more than likely spot her carrying her signature Japanese messenger bag.

“She’s always kind of been in to the cutesy Japanese stuff, but it really took off in the last year,” Portillo said.

Howeth’s love for Japanese items has bled in to her love for other elements of her life, including drawing through the Japanese pencils and pens Howeth collects.

And while languages are most definitely the new love of Howeth’s life, she will always have a soft spot for music. Howeth is a four year veteran of the CHS band and is also an active member of her church choir.

“I really have no idea what I want to minor in, but if I had to choose it would probably be something related to music,” Howeth said. “I’m not going to give up music as a part of my life.”

Howeth was offered scholarship money for her musical talents and academic performance by Lyon College in Batesville, Ark where she will pursue her major in Japanese in the fall.

“I was skeptical of Lyon at first because it’s in the middle of nowhere. I had to see it to believe it,” Howeth said. “I had already visited the University of Puget Sound [in Tacoma, Wash] and was really attached to it, but my father wanted to me to look at Lyon, and when I visited the campus, I fell in love.”

Howeth’s friends and family will look on as Howeth begins her new life in Batesville this fall and hope that her strong sense of self and independence will follow her as she forges a bond with her new life and love, Japanese.