Applying for the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership & Research Programme is one of the boldest but definitely the most rewarding decisions I have made in my university life. Spending my school life in the Asian culture, in which directly asking for opportunities is sometimes considered impolite, I am used to waiting for teachers to see my ability and assign me leadership roles. However, as this does not happen in the university, especially in Western culture, I need to step out of my comfort zone and seek opportunities myself, and this is the main motivation for me to apply to become a Laidlaw Scholar.

As an international student, the majority of my Laidlaw journey (leadership training & research) was done in a global setting. As such, my understanding of "leadership" was redefined after the leadership training and the Oxford Character Project. By discussing "what makes a good leader" with scholars from different parts of the world, I learned that there is no correct answer to this question, and the characteristics of a good leader depend on various factors, including the social context, the personalities of their members, and the purpose of the team.

Although I completed my LiA project in my home country, by receiving international guests to the Tzu-Chi foundation, I realised the global need to improve education, sustainability, and healthcare. Through my conversation with the faculty of an elementary school in San Francisco, I learned that despite the USA's GDP being vastly larger than Taiwan's, families in their area struggle to sustain themselves. By touring ambassadors from the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis around Tzu-Chi’s recycling centre, I learned that not all countries know how to reuse the recyclable materials. By chatting with a British urologist visiting the Taipei Tzu-Chi Hospital, I learned how the welfare of medical workers can discourage them from working harder. Together, my global experience during LiA taught me that there are people who need our help in different ways everywhere around the world, even in well-developed countries.

The most valuable takeaway I gained from my Laidlaw journey, however, is a new group of international friends: the Imperial 2024 Laidlaw cohort. As an extremely introverted person, my cohort accompanied me throughout and helped me survive the crowded Laidlaw 2024 European Conference. It was because of them, I had the courage to reach out and chat with scholars from other universities, expanding my global network.

My Laidlaw scholarship global experience helped me transition from a typical Asian student to a well-adapted international student, raised my global cultural awareness, and made me a better scholar who is capable of networking and seeking opportunities. In the future, I will continue to develop my leadership and research skills to address global challenges, making the world a better place for everyone.