nwasianweekly.com
July 22, 2006

Photo provided by University of Washington

UW graduate Jennifer Lee won the chance to travel around the world — for free.

From globetrotters to global citizens

Jennifer Lee recently received $20,000 and a chance of a lifetime.

As one of 10 recipients of the highly coveted Bonderman Fellowship, she will get to travel the world, at her own pace, on her own itinerary, for eight months. The University of Washington graduate gets to determine her own route as she hops from one country to the next — all at no cost to her.

What a wonderful example of creative giving. Global travel is one of the most rewarding and valuable experiences anyone could ever hope to have. Interacting with people from different cultures, living in unfamiliar surroundings, speaking in another language, eating different foods, navigating various modes of transportation — all can be transformative experiences because they force people out of their comfort zones and challenge them to look at the world through the eyes of other people and cultures.

International travelers often return home with greater appreciation for diversity and a desire to learn more about the world.

Such curiosity about the world is one mark of a good global citizen.

We applaud the generosity of the UW alumnus who founded the scholarship, David Bonderman, himself the recipient of a similar opportunity from Harvard University when he was a graduate student there. He is offering young people an experience most only dream about. More importantly, he is helping turn the next generation of leaders into better global citizens.

Already we are noticing the importance of global awareness and cultural competency. The next generation of business leaders must be equipped to interact and make deals with people across borders. Political leaders will need international diplomacy skills, as countries like China, India, North Korea and Vietnam and the entire Middle East emerge as important players. And as the United States itself becomes a more diverse population, a productive and harmonious workforce will be dependent on employees who can work effectively in multicultural settings.

One of the most surprising aspects about this scholarship is that none of the recipients have to write an essay or give a speech about their trip when they return. The students are trusted to learn as they go along, to be better people as a result of the experience. It’s not that we don’t trust them, but we would like to see some kind of report, whether written or oral, upon their return. It would be nice for their peers and community members to listen to their stories and see the photos they took on their journey. That kind of recap might inspire others to go on similar adventures. It can also help the scholarship committee improve the program in the future.

However, we still thank the donor of this generous gift to the UW. A trip around the world with no strings attached? You can’t put a price on that.

It’s the journey of a lifetime.

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