Do you want to be a Global Citizen? Wise Words and Wide-Ranging Deeds from a Future Leader

Do you know the person on the right in the photo above? If you don’t you have not passed a question they might ask on a global citizen test were such a thing given.

Do you know people who you consider to be global citizens? If you do, what are the traits they embody that make them fit the description? Colleges, business, NGO etc. underscore the need for students to learn how become a member of this group. In my interview with Sebra Yen (the person on the left in the photo), those looking to learn how one person who fits the description has poised himself to contribute in significant ways to making the world a better place. Yes, I just used an all too overused cliché, but in this case the cliché is true.

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Questions

Can you give us a little background about where you grew up, your family and where you went to high school?

My parents are immigrants from Taiwan. Along with my older brother, I was born at the University of Virginia Hospital during the time my father was working on his doctorate degree at the University. Funny story: I was actually named after his PhD. My Chinese name 少博 literally means “little doctor.” (My brother was named after his master’s.) After graduation, the family relocated to Northern Virginia and that’s where we’ve been ever since. A few years later, we welcomed my younger sister into the family and I became the middle child. All three of us attended Centreville High School, which is one of the many schools in the Fairfax County Public Schools system.

Sebra already thinking ahead

What was your high school experience like? What did you like and not like about it? Was there a lot of stress on the part of good students to get into highly selective schools?  

Oh, my goodness. To be honest, high school was not a good time for me. The bullying that started from elementary school just kept getting worse and it was a huge distraction to my schooling. Kids are mean! It came to a point where I felt like I was suffocating and it was an issue I really couldn’t talk about with my conservative, Confucian parents. As a result, the stress of getting into a highly selective school didn’t really factor into my priorities at that time. Luckily, figure skating saved me.

I would also like to ask about the bullying if you would not mind. It is a big issue in schools these days. Why do you think you were singled out and did the school do anything helpful? 

I believe I was singled out in school because of my feminine characteristics as a male. It’s very unusual to most people, I guess. It was definitely hard to have to go to school everyday and hear something negative about you, and they were talking about something that you couldn’t change. The school did intervene in a case but I think after a while I ran away from it with my busy schedule and figure skating. Now, I do want power to change this.

You were a very successful competitive skater. Can you talk about the amount of time this took and what you learned, aside from skating that has helped you since then? What was it about this sport that drew you in?

Michelle Kwan inspired me to skate. After watching her performances at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games on television, I was immediately captivated by her ability to tell a story to thousands of viewers through her strength, grace, and honesty. Figure skating is truly an amazing sport because the athlete is given the opportunity to combine his/her athleticism with artistry. Due to the massive bullying, it became clear to me that I wanted to rise above it and I wanted to be someone great: I wanted to be an Olympian. Despite starting at a very atypical, late age, I really thought I had a shot at making it big and it quickly became my life. I spent about two hours a day on the ice and another two hours for off-ice training. Commuting to and from the rink was lengthy for a full-time high school student but well worth it. My parents really didn’t understand why I wanted to skate—they just hoped that it would be a hobby. Figure skating consumed me, and any chance I got to be away from the kids that judged me was freedom. The most important thing I’ve learned from this experience aside f

from time management and 

multi-tasking is the value of 

getting back up every time 

you fall down.

Where did you go to school before transferring? How was that experience? Was it during this time that you found out you would not be going to the Olympics and how hard was this disappointment? 

I went to George Mason University before transferring. The university was close to the ice rink I trained at so it was a good choice at the time. Prior to transferring, I was balancing a full-time course load with a full-time training schedule so it was an exciting lifestyle that required a lot of discipline and focus. It definitely taught me how to balance my life activities. While the goal was to qualify for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, it was very disappointing to end my skating dreams on such short notice but it was a sacrifice I made to become a Foreign Service Officer. 

Can you take us through your college application process? How many schools did you apply to and what were you looking for in a university? Why did you end up choosing the university you did?

As I mentioned earlier, the college application process wasn’t the top priority at the time. I spent the next two years after my high school graduation chasing after my Olympic dream before transferring.—I transitioned from an aspiring Olympian to an aspiring Foreign Service Officer. There were a lot of reasons as to why I ended up going to the University of Virginia: it was my birthplace, it was a top university to study international relations in the world, and it offered the best value.

It is clear that from a young age you have been passionate about global issues? Can you talk about when you first started to become interested in this?

I would definitely say that my international experience as a figure skater ignited my passion for global issues. For these competitions, I traveled the world, learned new languages, and interacted with people of various sociocultural backgrounds. These opportunities to engage in dialogue and form new friendships transcended differences and ultimately led me to believe that world peace and prosperity was possible through international exchange and cooperation.

Once you enrolled at your university you continued to develop your passion for international affairs. Let’s talk first about your majors. What were your favorite classes in foreign affairs and East Asian studies and why? Did you have a mentor or

two who helped you and if so in what way?

My favorite class that I took was definitely Democracy and Foreign Policy (PLIR 4431) with Professor Furia. It was memorable because this class exposed me to Joseph S. Nye’s concept of soft power, which I find fascinating and relevant to the work I want to do: public diplomacy. Professor Furia has also become a mentor to me as he has helped me in various ways such as collaborating on a research project in which I will talk about later. Additionally, the Japanese language program was amazing. Although rigorous and demanding, Kawai-sensei and Marshall-sensei have challenged me and helped me grow as a communicator in Japanese. I am sincerely grateful for their devotion and tutelage.

You are culturally and linguistically fluent in Japanese and Chinese. How important were things like living in a language house where you were living among others who were trying to learn the language? 

I would say that living in the Shea language immersion house was a very good experience because it required you to speak in only the language you were learning. Moreover, it placed you in an environment where everyone had similar goals and interests. However, I definitely branched off and sought additional opportunities such as maintaining good relations with Japanese graduate students or volunteering as a Japanese assistant language teacher with a local high school. In the end, I felt that approaching it with a proactive attitude was the most important part of the language development process.

Can you talk a bit about how you secured a scholarship to enroll in Intensive Chinese Language Study at the National Taiwan Normal University, Mandarin Training Center in Taipei City, in Taiwan? What was it like in terms of how hard it was and how different the approach was to teaching languages in the US?  

I secured the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES) through the Ministry of Education, Taiwan. The Mandarin Training Center at the National Taiwan Normal University offered two types of classes: regular and intensive. I chose intensive and I felt that the level of difficulty was just right. The teacher that taught me my second semester was very catering to our needs and the topics we wanted to study. In comparison to the United States, I would say that the approach in teaching languages in Taiwan wasn’t so much different since the teachers were internationally trained. It was definitely not as strict as I imagined!

You also served as a mentor in a variety of capacities. What do you think makes for a good mentor? You might want to mention what you did with the International Buddy Program and the Transfer Student Peer Advisor program.

In addition to having experience and specific knowledge, I think the most important part about being a good mentor is having an enthusiastic attitude. In introducing academics, housing, and student life at Uva to the students I mentored in the International Buddy Program and Transfer Student Peer Advisor Program, I found that it’s always helpful to bring a sense of fire and pizazz to the table.

Sebra with friends

Who did you hang out with as an undergrad? Did you have a core group of friends or did you cross a lot of borders? Did you feel that students often separate too easily into groups and if so what can schools do to help students from diverse backgrounds mix more?

As an undergrad, I definitely crossed a lot of borders and I predominantly hung out with international students. I really didn’t have a core group of friends because I was more interested in learning about different people. I do feel that students often separate too easily into groups and that schools can help students from diverse backgrounds mix more through residential programs like the International Residential College at Uva.

Do you have advice for students about how to get the most out of their undergraduate education? Do you have anything you would have changed about your approach to your undergraduate experience?

My greatest advice to give for undergrads is: always challenge yourself. I think feeling uncomfortable in a situation means you are doing things out of the ordinary, which makes you see things from a different perspective. For me, I wish I had done more and met more people from all walks of life!

Can you talk a bit about the research paper you presented at the 2014 International Studies Association-South Conference?

As mentioned earlier, Professor Furia and I collaborated on a research project regarding nationalism and war willingness among East Asian mass publics. Professor Furia is the Director of the Security and Justice Track of the new Global Studies program.. We were able to combine my specialty in East Asian affairs with his expertise in designing research that made sense of public opinion data we gathered from the World Values Survey. Ultimately, we were able to present our findings at the International Student Association-South Conference for the International Relations of the Asia Pacific Panel at the University of Richmond. 

Sebra at the Eliot School of International Affairs

Since graduation you have been about as busy as anyone could be getting international experiences in addition to a Masters Degree at GW in global communication as a part of the Elliot School of International Affairs. First of all why did you pick this program and could you describe what it is like in terms of classes and in terms of the skills they hope to instill in you. Has it been what you expected?

First of all, I chose GW because of its location in Washington, DC. A recent infographic from the American Foreign Service Association showed that GW  is one of the top Foreign Service feeder schools. As an aspiring Public Diplomacy Officer, I chose Global Communication at the Elliott School of International Affairs because it is a holistic program that combines communication, international politics, international economics, research methods, and other skills courses into understanding how to effectively communicate with a global audience. The classes here have been amazing as the Elliott School emphasizes professional development. Many of the class assignments and group projects have been focused on developing skills in policy. It’s been more than what I’ve expected!

You are involved in a number of leadership positions. Can you talk about these 2: President, Organization of Asian Studies; Associate Editor, International Affairs Review?

As an Associate Editor and Web Writer with the International Affairs Review, it is a graduate student run publication at the Elliott School of International Affairs. As an editor for the press side, I’ve been fortunate to be a part of a team that publishes a journal each semester, allowing me to hone my writing and editing skills. As a writer, I recently published an online piece. Check it out here: 

As for the Organization of Asian Studies, I am serving as the President in order to provide academic, professional development, and social activities related to the study of Asia for students at the Elliott School. We are currently planning a big event that will host a high-profile speaker from the Embassy of Japan. More details to come!

In addition, you recently returned from what looks to be an exceptional experience: Winter Program on the United Nations and Global Challenges at the Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. What was this like and what did you get out of it? Did it change your view in any way about how the world works or what it is you ultimately want to do?

International Geneva was amazing! The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies did a great job in coordinating this program since it included lectures and meetings with UN officials, site visits, and a negotiation simulation. It was also a chance to interact with like-minded peers from all over the world. During our United Nations tour, I would definitely say that entering the conference room of the UN Human Rights Council and witnessing the beauty of the ceiling was an emotional moment for me. The ceiling represented the union of opposites, and I felt that the United Nations, as a forum to convene and address issues, was a necessary establishment in our world. Ultimately after this experience I feel inspired to be a champion of human rights.

Sebra with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein

As if this were not enough you are also a Public and Online Communications Intern at the United Nations Information Center in Washington, DC. What do you do in your internship?

The United Nations Information Center in Washington, DC is part of the Department of Public Information (DPI) of the UN Secretariat. There are 63 United Nations Information Centers around the world. My responsibilities revolve around attending events related to the UN in Washington, DC and reporting back to Headquarters in New York. Moreover, I am also part of the social media team where I work in a team in implementing DPI’s communications campaign as well as creating original content. Moreover, interns also help out in hosting UN officials during their visits to Washington, DC. It was truly exciting to have met the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein as well as the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon when he came to the recent White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE).

In 2016 you will be graduating. What is it that you hope to do at that point and why? Are there particular issues around the world right now that you are most focused on? Are there issues more people should be aware of and if so what are they?

I intend on joining the US Foreign Service as a Public Diplomacy Officer. I hope to build public awareness and promote US interests abroad, utilizing my cross-cultural communication skills to the best of my abilities. I am most passionate about human rights, particularly LGBT rights. While on the global scale there are many countries in the world that don’t regard LGBT rights as human rights, I do think that we can start by being kinder to the people around us, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, since we are all part of a beautiful thing called humanity. 

Are you optimistic about the direction the world is heading right now? 

Yes, but the world needs more idealists!

Is there anything else you want to add?

I want to thank you so much for considering me for this interview. I hope that my story will inspire readers to dream big!

Sebra with ITU Secretary General Houlin Zhao

Sebra’s last piece of advice has worked out well for him. But dreaming big isn’t enough. Sebra also worked tirelessly to get where he is. None of the exceptional opportunities he has had were handed to him. Instead, he pursued his dream with action. Articles out this week by Frank Bruni in the NY Times and New Republic  about what matters in education have gone viral. He talks about how the name of the school does not matter. What matters are these traits: "the work that he or she puts into it, the skills that he or she picks up, the self-examination that's undertaken, the resourcefulness that's honed". Sebra defines in concrete terms what Bruni outlines.

  

Sebra’s approach to the bullying went through reminded me of a famous Churchill quote: “If you are going through hell, keep going”. How would you respond to bullying? Some of us might try to change to fit in or simply retreat into action. Sebra took the opposite path. He took his passion and grit and applied them to his skating and life. He kept going.

There are a lot of people who think that a focus on a sport is not the best choice a student can make to prepare for the challenges in school and in a career. There are others who prove this generalization is not true. Sebra is one of them. The effort he put in to achieve his Olympic dreams did not go to waste. He may not have a gold medal but he has the skills that predict future success. He learned focus, and learned how to work for a goal. These are transferable skills. Mark Edmundson, whom I have featured here a number of times, writes about this in his latest book, Why Football Matters. He went from a somewhat isolated kid to a team player who also learned life skills. He goes back to Plato to make the point that athletics and competition help people prepare for life challenges and I agree with him. It isn’t as though doing a sport is always good, but those who develop a passion and a work ethic tend to do well in life.

  

Sebra took his skills and applied them to his passion for international relations and global development. He didn’t however, just go to classes, although he learned a great deal form his mentors. Instead, he reached out and applied for a huge range of scholarships, study abroad options, and internships. He took his education seriously in the sense that he knows that many of the skills he needs in his career are not taught in a classroom. Increasingly employers and graduate schools look for students who have experiences on their resumes that indicate they are far more than a good GPA

Sebra competed on a world stage in skating. Now he is poised to compete on a world stage in his career. I expect that he will make a significant mark in helping create connections that will help many around the world. I am grateful to him for taking the time to craft such useful answers for all of us no matter what age or calling we have. It may be at some point  in the not too distant future that there will be someone about his age now posed next to him in a photo because Sebra is a world leader. I hope so.

Here is an example of an article that Sebra has just published on  future US relations with Taiwan

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For those looking for an answer to the question I posed about the first photo: Sebra with UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon