Coming to Kent from the Ukraine in the first grade, Sergey Russu spoke only his native Romanian language.
“The first year, there was the language barrier,” he said.
In time he not only picked up English, but due to the diversity of the church his family attended, he also learned Ukrainian, Russian and Modolvan.
While his mind soaked up the various tongues like a sponge, there was one universal language Russu was fascinated by, one that would help him connect with anyone on earth and propel him into his dream career.
“I was strong in math (as a child),” Russu said,” (and) I still enjoy it now.”
Russu’s dedication to excel in math and science earned him a Pacific Northwest Regional Council of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials scholarship worth $2000. And because Russu’s family participates in the King County Housing Authority’s Section 8 housing voucher program, the KCHA has also promised to contribute an additional $250 grant to be put toward continuing his education.
“This scholarship is a blessing,” he said.
Russu’s interest in mathematics and science began at Kent-Meridian High School where an instructor of his shared his love of civil engineering. From that point on, Russu made up his mind to work hard to achieve a similar goal.
“I’m thinking about electrical engineering,” said Russu, who graduates Saturday. “(And) I’ve been pretty early setting myself up.”
Doing Running Start at Highline Community College, Russu took advanced courses, and it was there in those challenging classes that his love of the sciences flourished.
“First of all, you can really go into the whole process of physics and chemistry, and you start realizing the nature behind the whole thing,” Russu said. “The second thing I really like is it’s very conceptual and deep in thought.”
But Russu wanted more. To apply the concepts he learned in the classroom to real-world situations, he joined the robotics club at Highline where he could marry mechanics and mathematics.
“It’s an interaction of multiple subjects,” Russu said. “It’s something I enjoy doing.”
And it’s something he hopes to continue in his last year at Highline before he transfers to a four-year university like his older brother who studies civil engineering at Seattle University. With the scholarship from the PNRC-NAHRO, he’ll be able to transfer as a junior, setting himself up for a great career in the field on engineering.
“One day I will look back upon my life and say, ‘I realized the value of education, and I took advantage of it,” Russu said.
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Graduation schedule, Saturday,ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St.
• Kentridge High School, 9 a.m.
• Kent-Meridian High School, 12:30 p.m.
• Kentwood High School, 3:30 p.m.
• Kentlake High School, 7 p.m.
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