"It is very possible, without due reflection, to lead a remarkable and meaningful life and derive no meanings or lessons from it at all." Unknown

Engaging internationally as a Laidlaw Scholar demonstrated to me how leadership done well can transcend borders, inviting a continual dialogue across individuals, disciplines and cultures. Each opportunity to share ideas and collaborate across nations was not simply a learning experience -it was a living demonstration of what it meant to me to be a global citizen. I found that curiosity was my bridge, that the desire to understand people different from myself fostered respect, humility, and a willingness to stand alongside others in our mutual curiosity.

As a historian-in-training, I discovered the deep relationship between intellectual curiosity and ethical responsibility. Laidlaw sharpened my empathy and honed my ability to communicate- two capacities that, I believe, rest at the heart of genuine leadership. I learned first-hand how an attuned moral compass becomes a guide through complexity, helping me navigate not just academic challenges but interpersonal ones as well. Leadership, in this global context, meant listening before speaking and searching for the common ground beneath differences. I came to realise that global citizenship is not simply a concept; it is a lived practice -a daily commitment to responsibility, to clarity, and to conducting oneself with equanimity amid the shifting ground of context and culture.

Throughout my time on the programme, one theme echoed persistently: collaboration. Whether tackling research projects with peers from different backgrounds or sharing life stories in late-night conversation, I became aware of how foundational relationships are to meaningful leadership. My closest friends from the scholarship are now scattered across continents, yet the dialogues we began continue. These friendships, forged in the pressure and excitement of shared projects and new environments, have made me more resilient and more attuned to the nuances of cross-cultural understanding.

There were moments -standing in the shadow of ancient ruins, learning from scholars whose traditions and perspectives diverged from my own -that reminded me how vital humility is to the pursuit of knowledge. To lead, I learned, is not to have the answers, but to be willing to ask the questions and hold space for uncertainty. Curiosity, humility, and resilience became my toolkit, essential not just for academic challenges but for navigating the unpredictable possibilities of global citizenship.

Equally, my evolving approach to leadership now regards research and learning as social acts, not solitary ventures. The Laidlaw Programme revealed that knowledge grows most powerfully in community, and that leadership is less about directing others and more about cultivating environments where everyone can thrive. In this way, my scholarship has taught me that contentment is found not in achievement alone, but in the clarity that arrives when responsibilities are met and relationships are nurtured with care and integrity. I am proudest of those small moments of mutual recognition and support- from aiding a peer overwhelmed by deadlines to seeking advice for my own research anxieties- and I see these as the building blocks of positive leadership.

As I look to the future, these lessons will form the foundation of how I approach both research and collaboration. I now view leadership not as something one person carries alone but as something animated by collective curiosity and shared ethical responsibility. To lead with curiosity is to embrace both wonder and doubt- to find joy in the questions and meaning in the conversation.

I graduate the Laidlaw Programme certain that research is the path for me. Nothing makes me happier than being curious with other curious people. The challenge now, as I move forward, is to practice every day what Laidlaw has taught me: that to be a global citizen and a true leader is to connect, to listen, and to learn, continually refining a vision for myself and my community that is grounded in empathy and a desire to contribute meaningfully to a wider world.

''They'll tell you that the arts and humanities aren't practical, and then read poetry at funerals and weddings, cry over films and search for meaning in ancient philosophy. Surviving is one type of practicality, knowing why we bother is another.'' On the Importance of the Arts and Humanities