Fifth in a series

She is studying French for a possible career

Ten-year-old Julia Epplin-Zapf began studying French in kindergarten. Now, she's starting to think the foreign language might help her with a career as a diplomat.

Julia attends Kennard Classical Jr. Academy, a magnet school in the City of St. Louis. She is among an increasing number local kids getting a chance at foreign languages in elementary school.

Until recently, the fourth grader had planned to be a teacher when she grew up.

"But, now I'm thinking about becoming a foreign diplomat. French is the language of diplomacy," she said.

Last spring, her personal resume got a big boost when she was named a 2003 St. Louis Young Achiever of the Year. That award goes to four elementary, four middle and four high school students for accomplishments in school and community.

(Young Saint Louis.com announced the 2003 Achievers in the May, 2003, edition. This is the fifth in a series of profiles of the four elementary and four middle school winners.

(To read the May announcement story, click here. For the June profile of Kristen Delia, click here. For the July profile of Meghan Biotnott, click here. The August profile of Alexander Ecklund, click here, and the September profile of Mack Council, click here.)

Julia has set a number of personal goals for the new 2003-2004 school year. She wants to increase her participation in Kennard's student council. She has a seat on the council through fifth grade.

The council kids help in many fund-raising projects. They include a Math-a-thon to aid St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis and jumping rope to aid the American Heart Assn.

Last year, the council members helped re-decorate the school's teacher lounge.

But, she's got personal goals also.

She wants to improve her chess game. Her dad, Joseph Epplin, is coach of her school's chess club. Her brother, Tom, is an assistant coach.

Julia was in a summer chess club at Richmond Heights to improve her skills. She also plays regularly with her dad and brother. The family is going to at national chess tournament in the fall, where her brother will compete.

However, she does have a problem with some of her competitive efforts. If she wins, she always feels sorry for the kid she beats, especially if it's a friend.

"It doesn't bother me as much when I don't know the other person," she said.

Julia also has sports goals.

She wants to become a member of the Synchro-Seals synchronized swimming team. That's at the Kingshighway branch of the YWCA. She made the team in late September.

Then, she wants to advance to Level 4 in gymnastics. At Level 4, she'll be able to join the YWCA's gymnastics team, rather than just take lessons.

She's also going to be working to advance in Girl Scouts and goes to religion classes on Monday nights. She will continue taking weekly piano lessons.

Teacher Matthew Brazelton at Kennard school last year nominated Julia for the Achiever award. He said Julia was not only a hard worker with excellent grades but "helps motivate other students to do better."

Sometimes, her activities center in her southside neighborhood. She and two of her neighborhood friends helped to collect books and made things to sell at a Relay for Life event in August.

"We made goodie bags with little toys, coloring books and pencil. We've done that for three years," she said. Proceeds go to aid in the fight against cancer.

Concerning her new interest in diplomacy, Julia has been to Europe twice. Her family went for more than six months when dad's job took him there. Then, during the last spring break, the family was in England for a week.

This year, Julia will have 50-minute French classes twice a week.

"Mostly, we speak French. But, I can write some short sentences," she said.

If she pursues a career in diplomacy, she wants to attend either Georgetown University of American University in Washington, D.C.

Then, she'll be able to put her years of French to work.