I’d say I could offer a unique reflection on what I’ve learned throughout the scholarship, but not for any specifically extraordinary or laudable reasons. Rather, due to fairly boring, personal financial circumstances, I have had a relatively unique perspective of remaining a Laidlaw scholar for nearly three years, rather than 18 months. After freshman year, I completed my research summer fairly uneventfully, surrounded by the support, companionship, and in-person activities provided by the Georgetown Laidlaw Scholars program. Throughout the next academic year, I participated in programming with my cohort, including the Laidlaw Scholars Conference at Columbia University (Fall 2024). Yet, when summer came around, uncertain nonprofit funding due to federal administration changes and my need to save up money to pay for the following fall’s tuition meant that I took a full-time job over the summer that ultimately paid me more than the stipend. Furthermore, the program that I wanted to participate in abroad at the Museum had different starting points than the American school year. As I was planning on a gap semester anyway, I talked with the advisor of my program and agreed on a plan that would let me complete the LiA during my spring gap semester in March-June 2026. As I completed my reflections over the summer, I’ve now thus had the opportunity to engage with Laidlaw values over all four years of my undergraduate experience. Laidlaw has seen me through so many “career” and academic phases, and I am grateful for having the program’s support for my years at Georgetown.
So, what have I taken away?
Maybe it’s sappy, but the primary lesson I’ve taken away from this program regarding ethical leadership and global citizenship is the importance of fostering genuine connections with other people. At a more personal level, I’ve both met some close friends through this program (Talia Zamir, Claire Auslander, and Allie Schlicht from our Laidlaw random housing) and seen some of my closest friends from prior achieve really incredible, intelligent findings through the program (Anand Shukla-Parekh at Columbia University/Trinity College). I remain in regular contact with the driven, passionate people from the War and Women’s Human Rights Museum; coworkers, volunteers, museum visitors, and associated activists. My project freshman year led me to the Big East Research Symposium, where I was exposed to undergraduate research from eleven universities and met previous scholars.
Through my research project on the differences between continuation high schools and comprehensive high schools in California, I realized the value of data and numbers as evidence for “obvious truths.” The impact of the truths that we take for granted hinge on the numbers that can back it up, especially in the evidence-based field that most school districts laud themselves on. On their own, a number doesn’t matter and might just seem like a statistic in some think tank report. But the numbers, and the care that goes into analyzing them correctly, can get more students meals, teachers, and resources. I carried this lesson close to my heart: good information and people who care about good information are critical to ethical leaders.
During my time at the War and Women’s Human Rights Museum, I learned (foremost) the value of cross-cause solidarity. I was surprised to learn on my first day at the museum that some of the most ardent opposition to the museum’s founding was from civic organizations of the descendents of the independence fighters during the Japanese occupation. One would have thought that the calls for justice from the Japanese government would have enticed solidarity; no, the deeply-rooted patriarchy and moral superiority won out. At the museum, I engaged in solidarity actions through visiting other exhibits, attending community meetings, and representing the museum to non-Korean and Korean organizations. I connected with the Palestinian Cultural Association, several Catholic and Christian Women’s Associations, a group helping formerly trafficked women in Korea, international comfort women’s organizations, human rights organizations from Japan, and universities.
I have also learned about myself that I feel most fulfilled in any ethical leadership or global citizen position when I believe that my role directly improves the lives of other people. Regardless of if it’s in educational research or direct service in historical accountability, I want to be addressing and answering questions that matter to people. Beyond my time as a scholar and at Georgetown, I hope to carry the principles of curiosity and collaboration that I’ve learned through my time into any field I end up in.
Finally, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who I met through the Laidlaw Scholarship that I learned so much from. Thank you to everyone listed above, my mentor Prof. Nora Gordon at Georgetown University, and Director Kim Dong-Hee and all of the staff at the War and Women’s Human Rights Museum. Finally, thank you to Colleen Dougherty at Georgetown’s Center for Research and Fellowships for guiding me through my unconventional circumstances and supporting me for the past three years.