Harvard College ’21 (Kirkland House)
BA, Sociology and East Asian Studies
MA Candidate, Regional Studies - East Asia, Harvard University
Looking back, my choice to pursue a double concentration in East Asian Studies and Sociology was a natural one. In my sophomore year, I declared a concentration in Sociology with a particular focus in mind—gender issues in Japan—which has been a long-standing interest of mine. The more I pondered this issue, the more it made sense for me to deepen my understanding of East Asian societies and their localized contexts.
Apart from its relevance to my academic interests, however, the East Asian Studies department, its wide-ranging courses, and the warm, tight-knit community of its students and faculty have shaped some of my greatest memories at Harvard. I very much appreciated the interdisciplinary freedom of the concentration, as well as the deep care and attentive guidance the department provides its students. When I was writing my undergraduate senior thesis, I was extremely grateful to have not only a wonderful faculty thesis advisor but also an amazing graduate tutor, who provided me with extensive care and assistance each step throughout the writing process.
Now, as I navigate my next life chapter as a Master’s student in the Regional Studies–East Asia program at Harvard, I deeply feel—more than ever—that my concentration in East Asian Studies has played an integral part in shaping both my scholarly and personal identity. Not only has it aided my academic pursuits, but it has also given me a curiosity and open-mindedness to approaching both my research and personal interests, which I continue to cherish today.