I had the amazing opportunity to participate in the annual Laidlaw Conference hosted by the Columbia University. Over the three days, I have an amazing time filled with first time experiences and intellectually stimulating activities.
Day 1: This is the exciting start of the Laidlaw conference, setting the tone for an intellectually stimulating experience. I had the opportunity to network with many amazing scholars, each deeply passionate and engaged in their research and projects. Afterwards, I joined the  tour of Barnard College for my evening activity to learn the place's history and culture. It was fascinating to explore the campus, and I was very impressed by Barnard's beautiful buildings and learning environment.
Day 2: This day was filled with enriching experiences. We started with a virtual session with Lord Laidlaw, who shared his values and experience with us. The panel discussions and poster presentations showcased impressive and thought-provoking research by my fellow attendees. One presentation that I was particularly interested in was Kamala Karuppiah's research on the inclusion of doctors with disabilities, a topic that sparked a new perspective for me on addressing the healthcare worker shortage. Engaging in an empathy exercise during a workshop challenged me to consider different perspectives and I tried to put myself in the shoes of a person with a hearing disability. The task was not as easy as I thought, but I suppose this is the point of the exercise: recognize how we can improve in our ability to empathise. The gala dinner was a delightful first-time experience. I really enjoyed the delicious and the insightful speech delivered by Professor Jennifer Boylan on the importance of curiosity and love.
Day 3: The day commenced with the Oxford ethical leadership class, where we delved into the nuances of character manifesting as vice and virtue. This exploration motivated me to introspect and achieve a better understanding of myself.
I am immensely grateful to the Laidlaw foundation, Barnard College and Columbia University for giving me the chance to join the Laidlaw Conference, I will forever remember this experience and treasure everything I learned from it!