US-China Summit
Summer 2014
Spending two weeks in China
was like a dream.
The US-China Summit was built by the 100,000 Strong Foundation and WorldStrides, who strive to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western cultures and strengthen US-China relations.
As a United States Student Representative, I met with not only Chinese University students, but also with top Chinese and US government officials such as Max Baucus, the US Ambassador of China. Exploring ShangHai, BeiJing, Tsinghua University Affiliated High School, and Peking University allowed me to understand Chinese culture from a new perspective. During team-building activities, the Peking University students and I discussed the role of leadership in an international community. As a Chinese-American, this summit truly allowed me to explore my roots and look forward to the future.
Studying Abroad
Studying abroad was more than just going to school and being a tourist.
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By integrating with the local education system, I learned so much about myself and the cultures of the world. The experience made me understand the weight of my words and actions, empowering me to make a positive change.
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In Summer 2014, I was a United States Representative at the US-China Summit.
In Spring 2015, I was an Exchange Student at Bournemouth University, England.
In Fall 2016, I returned to the US with a new sense of adventure and responsibility.
To put it simply, I have a travel bug.
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As a Gilman Scholar, I studied International Hospitality Management at Bournemouth University (BU) for a full semester. As an exchange student, I integrated with students from not only the United Kingdom, but also Greece, Hong Kong, France, Belgium, Philippines, Taiwan and many more. Not only did I adapt to an entirely new environment, I completed three courses and excelled in a foreign education system.
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Hospitality Operations
This course combined practical and conceptual learning which developed my understanding of the operational principles in food and beverage environments. There were to main components of this course: the Practicum and the Sustainability project.
The Retreat is an on-campus restaurant that serviced the faculty and staff of BU. From Head Chef to Operations Manager to Waitstaff to Stock Manager, I dedicated one week, every month operating this student-run establishment. For my project, I interviewed the general manager of Wagamamas, a popular English-Japanese ramen bar, and assessed the sustainability standards of this chain restaurant.
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Management Decision Making
The purpose of this course was to learn how to analyse the management decision making practices of modern hospitality businesses and the overall industry. For the semester-long group project, my team and I interviewed the owners of three local hotels and compared their management practices.
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Conference and Events Management
This course laid the foundation to understand the economic and operational challenges of developing conferences and events. My project focused on developing a sample business plan for an annual nutrition conference based in Bournemouth.
Bournemouth University
Spring 2015
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Pictured above are my experiences in England.
Pictured below are my experiences in Belgium, Italy, and France.
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My international journey furthered my understanding of different peoples and their relationships to food and the local food systems.
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Paris, France
Brussels, Belgium
Rome, Italy
Returning to the US
With my new found independence and love of travelling,
I am inspired to change our world.
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My first step in this path was becoming a Study Abroad Peer Advisor (SAPA) for the Global Education Center. Less than a year later, I chose to lead this program as the SAPA Coordinator.