Dulguun Batzaya is a foreign exchange student from Mongolia, who came to the U.S. through a program called Flex.
“I’m in a program called Flex,” he said. “It’s been going on for 30 years, 22 countries send out students to America. It’s a scholarship program where you get selected, you have to write an essay, go through interviews, etc.”
Dulguun said he has really enjoyed his time here at Norwalk.
“It’s been pretty fun,” he said. “Being able to try out sports since I couldn’t do it back home, and meeting a lot of great people.”
Dulguun said he plans on pursuing his academics back home.
“I’m a junior right now, but I’m taking senior classes, so I’m going to graduate here,” he said. “Then go back and do it again since I’m technically considered a junior back home.”
Dulguun also plans on coming back to the states to go to college.
“I want to come back for college here in Iowa, to study international relations,” he said.
Dulguun said Norwalk High School has not only allowed him to grow academically, but also as a person.
“The classes they offer here, typically we wouldn’t have this back home, like journalism and culinary,” he said. “It allows you to figure out what you’re passionate about. It allowed me to become a lot more independent.”
Jenny Thomas, journalism teacher at Norwalk High School, said she enjoyed having Dulguun in class.
“He’s just a really likable person, great attitude, and he tries really hard,” she said.
Thomas said Dulguun was a valuable member of the journalism class this school year.
“Dulguun has made the most of his experience,” she said. “He really got involved, and was outgoing. We’re really gonna miss him.”
Taylor Stanley, senior at Norwalk and editor of The Spear, said she is impressed with how Dulguun has taken on challenges in class.
“He’s covered the Norwalk proficiency standard, which is a harder topic to write about,” she said. “He also did a good job on his culinary story, where there was minimal editing. He was a great addition to our journalism class this year and we will all miss him after graduation.”
