One common theme runs throughout my two Laidlaw summer projects with very different focuses – listening to the unheard. 

Summer 2023: Roots, Diaspora, Acculturation | What media doesn't tell you about HK's migration wave

I spent my first summer interviewing Hong Kong migrants in the UK from different generations to better understand their attitudes towards acculturation as this directly impacts their ability to integrate into the local society. The Hong Kong diaspora is rapidly growing amid the changing political situation back home. The media’s focus on the British Nationals (Overseas) scheme tends to be on a policy and political level, focusing on feasibility and the scheme’s implication on UK-China relations. Meanwhile, growing anti-immigrant narratives often argue that immigrant’s lack of social integration is to blame for the unwelcome sentiment. Yet, neither of these claims is representative of the experiences of Hong Kongers (and other migrants) under this migration wave. 

Therefore, I interviewed migrants from before the 1997 handover and those who moved recently under the BN(O) scheme with the hypothesis that the recent migrants with politicised identities are less inclined to integrate into the local culture. This was proven to be untrue as the interviews revealed more complex considerations behind acculturative decisions. During these interviews, I encountered interviewees who shared different political stances and conflicting views on the importance and ways of cultural preservation throughout generations. My neutral stance as a researcher required me to be a good listener. To me, listening to others forms the foundation of being a good leader. There are too many who talk but too little that listen, which contributes to the increasingly polarised society we are facing. As leaders, listening to search for a middle ground has never been more important.

Summer 2024: The Prison Crisis | How local experiences enhance my role as a global citizen

The second summer involves me working with a local charity in London that aims to reduce reoffending by offering through-the-gate mentoring and support for prisoners around England. Read more on my recent post :)

The purpose of LiA is to broaden our perspectives and horizons, but this isn’t limited to visiting countries abroad. One is highly unlikely to know people from all social backgrounds and classes even within their own country, and prisoners/ ex-offenders are certainly a group that not many students actively encounter. 

“No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens but its lowest ones.” – Nelson Mandela

My six weeks with Trailblazers Mentoring have given me a much deeper insight into the country I have lived in for the past two years. I believe that being a global citizen should not be limited to learning about foreign cultures. It should also include discovering the hidden aspects of your culture well enough to accurately represent it to those abroad. 

This scholarship has provided me with valuable opportunities to explore issues that I am passionate about and enabled me to connect with many bright individuals from diverse backgrounds. The conversations at the Laidlaw Conference, as well as leadership training, were truly stimulating and motivated me to become a better leader and global citizen every day.