High School Honors Student Actually 23-year-old Ukranian Man - Polidicks

[QUOTE]A Pennsylvania high school honors student just months from graduation was actually a 23-year-old Ukrainian national using a false identity after his visa expired, police said Thursday. Artur Samarin, who used the alias Asher Potts, was arrested and charged Tuesday in Harrisburg, the capital city, police said. Samarin is accused of masquerading as a Harrisburg High School student who was a member of the National Honor Society. Samarin was actively involved at the school, working with a student advisory group on a food bank, and he was a member of the school's ROTC and Naval Sea Cadet programs. He had a Pennsylvania driver's license in Potts' name when he was arrested, authorities said. Police believe that identity was fabricated and no one's identity was compromised. [/QUOTE] [media]https://twitter.com/RepPattyKim/status/472459801155629056[/media] [URL]http://bigstory.ap.org/1664abd6231a483ca3253fc3bb2da5fe[/URL]

So pretty much they busted a guy who wanted a new start and achieved it excellently. I hope he doesn't get slapped with too much shit on his plate for it. Unless... he's a spy? Might explain his extra-squeaky clean record. I'm honestly unsure of what to think.

[QUOTE=Kirad;49814446]Unless... he's a spy? Might explain his extra-squeaky clean record. I'm honestly unsure of what to think.[/QUOTE] Because Ukraine is intent on learning the secrets of our National Honor Society :v:

4.16 GPA? Let the man stay we need him haha

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;49814463]Because Ukraine is intent on learning the secrets of our National Honor Society :v:[/QUOTE] You're right, perhaps I'm being too pessimistic in entertaining the thought.

Yeah, this man is example of an immigrant becoming a productive member of society. Let this guy stay.

Why are you guys acting like getting good grades in high school as [B]a 23 year old[/B] is some kind of achievement?

[QUOTE=Pantz Master;49814564]Why are you guys acting like getting good grades in high school as [B]a 23 year old[/B] is some kind of achievement?[/QUOTE] because he was actively looking for an education + was active in the community and higher education.

[QUOTE=Pantz Master;49814564]Why are you guys acting like getting good grades in high school as [B]a 23 year old[/B] is some kind of achievement?[/QUOTE] I think it's more that he was doing volunteer work and was in the ROTC (which trains new officers for the military), things the vast majority of American citizens do not do. Seems weird that he'd elect to join the ROTC though, if I were trying to lay low in a foreign country, I would avoid institutions like the military that would want to pry into my past.

[QUOTE=Pantz Master;49814564]Why are you guys acting like getting good grades in high school as [B]a 23 year old[/B] is some kind of achievement?[/QUOTE] Well if they haven't been exposed to the knowledge before then sure. Age doesn't necessarily make you wiser, etc.

[QUOTE=Kirad;49814446]So pretty much they busted a guy who wanted a new start and achieved it excellently. I hope he doesn't get slapped with too much shit on his plate for it. Unless... he's a spy? Might explain his extra-squeaky clean record. I'm honestly unsure of what to think.[/QUOTE] It's the United States, are you nuts? They'll strip him of anything he gained and dump him back in Kiev with nothing.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;49814589]I think it's more that he was doing volunteer work and was in the ROTC (which trains new officers for the military), things the vast majority of American citizens do not do. Seems weird that he'd elect to join the ROTC though, if I were trying to lay low in a foreign country, I would avoid institutions like the military that would want to pry into my past.[/QUOTE] JROTC isn't an accomplishment, if you survived mandatory PE class in middle school you'd survive JROTC. It's what standard high school gym class should be, except you don't actually do exercise every single day (at least in the places I've observed it). Doesn't really train much for the military itself either, no more than the Boy Scouts do (except maybe marching I guess) JROTC isn't that resource intensive of a program and they wouldn't have pried that much into his past at all, because he's a high schooler. It was actually probably a good idea to do it, just to add that little bit more credibility. Granted, based on how much decorations he had he's not like the kids who just skated by doing fuckall in the background, but still not a momentous accomplishment for a [I]23 year old[/I]

[QUOTE=DOG-GY;49814596]Well if they haven't been exposed to the knowledge before then sure. Age doesn't necessarily make you wiser, etc.[/QUOTE] The difference between a 23 year old brain and an 18 year old brain is immense.

[QUOTE=Pantz Master;49814620]The difference between a 23 year old brain and an 18 year old brain is immense.[/QUOTE] Really?

[QUOTE=FinalHunter;49814640]Someguy didn't pay attention to the article and mixed up JROTC and ROTC. JROTC's mission is to create better citizens and while it has minor military aspects that's not the objective. ROTC's mission is to create officers. They're two entirely different things.[/QUOTE] It was JROTC. ROTC is what you join in college if you want to become an officer. [editline]25th February 2016[/editline] The article got it wrong.

[QUOTE=booster;49814645]Really?[/QUOTE] well when I was 18 I did stupid shit and wasted money on drinking and was an all around dweeb. Im 23 and ive now got 2 minor qualifications under my belt with a bachelor of computer science finishing this year, doing an internship over my holidays and demonstrate prac classes for the lower year levels at my university. I mean im not saying the dude went to university to study to be a high school student or something but if hes that much older he should be able to understand alot more alot quicker if he any sort of an academic. I dont think I could have understood cloud computing and neural networks when I was 18.

[QUOTE]"I would think there would have to be someone who knew," Wealand said. "And if there is, they are going to pay, too."[/QUOTE] Why you so bloodthirsty? [QUOTE]"Honestly, he was a very respectable guy. He was the perfect role model, someone you would want your son to look up to."[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]A state lawmaker posted a photo on Twitter of her handing Samarin an award in May 2014. Rep. Patty Kim, a Dauphin County Democrat, ended the tweet with "#goingplaces #proud."[/QUOTE] Seems like a standup guy.

[QUOTE=booster;49814645]Really?[/QUOTE]Dunno how immense the difference, but the afaik the brain keeps developing until the age of 25.

[QUOTE=Pantz Master;49814620]The difference between a 23 year old brain and an 18 year old brain is immense.[/QUOTE] Sure, but having prior education is more immense of a difference than an arbitrary age is what I'm saying. Can't really speak on that in this dude's case though ofc. If you tested 23 year olds and 18 year olds on learning a completely unfamiliar subject with no background experience whatsoever to pull from, who will do it better? Brain development is a lot more complex than just "gets smarter"

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;49814589]I think it's more that he was doing volunteer work and was in the ROTC (which trains new officers for the military), things the vast majority of American citizens do not do. Seems weird that he'd elect to join the ROTC though, if I were trying to lay low in a foreign country, I would avoid institutions like the military that would want to pry into my past.[/QUOTE] Eh it's JROTC. JROTC is just Military History + some gym and a Uniform. The only benefit of JROTC is if you were in Army JROTC and joined the army, you'd be an E2 instead of an E1. Which may not be the case anymore I don't know. 4 years of it in my high school would make you an E2. But big ass woopty doo

I'm really interested in what his visa was for, and also who created the fake ID for him. I'm having trouble figuring out a motive for his decision to overstay and why he would go through so much trouble to do so. Even more so than that, I really question why he had to go into a high school and fabricate his identity as a student rather than simply having an adult fake ID which would allow him to basically live as a nobody average joe. If I was overstaying on my visa and seeking an identity that would not alert the fed, I would choose something that keeps me out of the public eye. Engaging in JROTC and achieving academic honors in a public high school is the most conspicuous thing I can think of short of turning one's self into ICE. Either this guy's retarded, or he has some kind of ulterior motive. If he is indeed some sort of spy, then with whom would his allegiance lie? Russia? I doubt they would send such a young guy with such a thick accent to do intelligence work. Really, I'm just drawing blanks. This is so bewildering. My only explanation is that he would need the degree to become employed, but why go for the NHS? That's probably the easiest way to be caught.

[QUOTE=Pantz Master;49814620]The difference between a 23 year old brain and an 18 year old brain is immense.[/QUOTE] Maybe in maturity, but intelligence? I know plenty of people over 25 that if they went back to high school would be lucky to scrape paste a 3.0

[QUOTE=Pantz Master;49814620]The difference between a 23 year old brain and an 18 year old brain is immense.[/QUOTE] I was under the impression older age inhibited your ability to acquire new information than increased it.

-sNip-

[QUOTE=archival;49814669]well when I was 18 I did stupid shit and wasted money on drinking and was an all around dweeb. Im 23 and ive now got 2 minor qualifications under my belt with a bachelor of computer science finishing this year, doing an internship over my holidays and demonstrate prac classes for the lower year levels at my university. I mean im not saying the dude went to university to study to be a high school student or something but if hes that much older he should be able to understand alot more alot quicker if he any sort of an academic. I dont think I could have understood cloud computing and neural networks when I was 18.[/QUOTE] The changes between 18 and 23 would be mostly in lifestyle rather than brain development. A 23 year old has had learn to deal with a lot more responsibilities than a 18 year old.

[QUOTE=archival;49814669]well when I was 18 I did stupid shit and wasted money on drinking and was an all around dweeb.[/QUOTE] tbh this was your choice whether to do stupid shit and waste money on drinking has nothing to do with brain development. it's just a choice [QUOTE=archival;49814669] I dont think I could have understood cloud computing and neural networks when I was 18.[/QUOTE] you easily could've done that if you actually had a good foundation beforehand and actually put in the effort when you were at that age looks to me like you were irresponsible when you were younger, and are more productive now that you are more responsible i mean, in other countries, like my own, we start going to college at 16. i think it has more to do with experience

You know for a fake name, He actually seems like a pretty good guy.

can't blame him for wanting to stay, Ukraine is pretty rough with the war going on. i'd support him but with those recent allegations of him having sexual relations with a 15 year old, IDK what to say. im curious as to what he'll be sentenced to and what charges hit him the most.

[QUOTE=booster;49814645]Really?[/QUOTE] yes

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;49814463]Because Ukraine is intent on learning the secrets of our National Honor Society :v:[/QUOTE] He could be a Ukrainian working as a Russian spy and just gathering connections :spooky: