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YiJun Fan The International Business Conference provided me a distinct perspective about globalization not only by allowing me to brainstorm with several leading policy experts and economists, but also exposing me to institutions such as the IMF, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and others. It was a wonderful learning experience, and I am grateful to the Osgood Center staff for providing such a enriching opportunity to students from around the globe.
As a graduate student working for a Master of Public Policy degree, I could not have been in a better place. Washington, DC is the hub of this nation’s public policy work, and I didn’t fully realize that until I was actually there in the middle of everything. I can’t count how many articles I have had to read from the Brookings Institution, CSIS, or of course Congress. And I know that I have invested many free hours in watching CSPAN. To hear from senior fellows in these institutions and to be able to ask them questions in person is exponentially better than reading any article. But just going to Washington didn’t assure that I would have such an amazing experience. That’s where the Osgood Center comes in. The people and places that the Osgood Center connects students to is simply amazing. Despite being a military officer, there is no chance that I would have been able to go to the Center for National Policy, where there was a mix of senior DOD officials, a senior correspondent from The Economist, and a group of Osgood students all in the same room. I was able to have a conversation with a senior Pentagon official about the future of energy use within the military. I don’t know where else, or with any other group, that could happen. In the course of one week, I made new friends while making connections that will enhance my career opportunities. I highly recommend Osgood Center programs to anyone who is interested in a career in public service.
The way the conference was structured allowed for lots of give-and-take, adopting the ritual model of communication. The cultural diversity created through the different cultural backgrounds the participants came from has actually made so much room for receiving and giving, learning as well as teaching. This was not merely fulfilled within the rooms in which the meetings were held, but even outside. The fact that the majority of the participants stayed in one dorm allowed for healthy, effective interaction amongst participants. Fernando Rubio, an Austin College student, revealed, "The greatest thing that I truly learned from this conference is how significant it is listening to others and how important it is to forge human relationships, especially with those coming from different cultures." The participants had a chance to meet with top-level politicians, successful businessmen, and brilliant leaders. Presumably, the entire essence of the conference is about leadership. And to me, leadership is not about one, but about those around one. The participants had the opportunity to discuss the very meaning of leadership and ones of the many most current, burning issues with experienced leaders.
The speakers/guests at the ILC were extremely motivational, and encouraged ILC students to learn more about leadership as well as themselves. Prior to the conference, I was under the impression that leaders of politics and corporations too often sacrificed their values and ethics in order to gain financial and/or political prowess; nevertheless, the speakers disproved these preconceived notions. Unlike my counterparts from Texas, Morocco, and Pennsylvania, Turkmenistan, I have a lived in the Washington-Metro area for all of my life. However, I had spent most of my time "outside of the beltway," as they say, both literally and figuratively. After the ILC, I strongly desire to become deeply immersed in the culture that exists "inside the beltway," which, I feel, will help me immensely in my pursuit of the defense for international human rights.
The ILC was a life-changing opportunity for me. The visits to the White House, the Congress and other government offices and think tanks were very educational. I certainly learned a lot in the two weeks I spent with Shelly and Gaya. The aspect I enjoyed the most was the ability to interact with people who accomplished so much by just hard work and determination and now serve as role models for students like myself.
The ILC was definitely more than I expected. Besides the astonishing speakers that we had, I most enjoyed meeting my peers. Fascinating students, dedicated to breaking down the boundaries that cultures and traditions have imposed on us by being willing to engage into dialogue and listening to the other side on issues. The ILC not only allows you to learn a lot about leadership, but it is also very creative by using Washington, DC, the heart of US politics and an ever-changing environment, as its classroom, providing students with unique experiences that are always relevant to the times we live in. Thank you very much for this unforgettable experience that I will cherish forever, through which I not only learned about leadership, but all the fundamental values connected to it.
The diversity characterizing the activities I took part in was something that has provided me with an ability to look at different things, and different issues from different perspectives. During the conference, I had the chance to meet with different people including students and guest speakers from whom I learned a great deal. Attending this conference has resulted in improving my learning skills, both at the academic and the professional level, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to attend the ILC.
This conference has taught me more about leadership than any study of historical figures or literature possibly could. With Washington, DC as our classroom, we have learned life lessons from influential leaders in business and politics. We learned the principles that guided these leaders' decisions and ultimately led them to success. The lectures from the Osgood board members had the most influence upon me. I think that now I am beginning to understand the relationship between humility and eventual respect, between admitting ignorance and eventual knowledge, and between empowering others and in turn raising oneself.
I was really fortunate to attend the International Leadership Conference. I am sure that the two weeks I spent interacting with peoples from different domains will serve as a conduit towards shaping my way ahead. More importantly, learning about leadership is an insightful experience I was always looking for. I enjoyed listening to the speakers and guests and learning about their own experiences and achievements. These individuals taught me the importance of self-reliance, determination, hard work, and resilience. I consider my experience with the Osgood Center to be one of the best educational experiences I've ever had. I'm really thankful to the Osgood Center's staff, namely Dr. Williams and Gaya. My experience was great, and I'm looking forward to attending it again.
Attending the ILC was one of the most exciting events of the year because it exposed me to a number of opportunities in such an important and metropolitan city, like Washington DC. Giving students like me a chance to meet and communicate with some of the leading political and social figures was one of the most exciting parts of the conference. It is through discussions with those leaders, that I strengthened my inner drive for my personal and societal goals; and I am sure a number of students will concur with me on this matter. I also liked the fact that ILC underlined the importance of young generations from different parts of the world in breaking down personal and social barriers, and encouraging them to strive for their ambitions, no matter how great or challenging they are.
The ILC taught me a lot about leadership not only by exposing me to prominent leaders and speakers, but also allowing a lot of interaction with my peers. One of my favorite features of the conference was that everyone was very accessible; we were able to participate by asking questions, commenting and receiving immediate feedback. |
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