Before beginning her International Master's in Economy, State and Society (IMESS), Lu Dong planned to become a financial analyst. Joining the IMESS degree led her to shift her perspective; Lu's current goal is to work at the intersection of economics, policy, and social justice and make an impact.
During her studies at SSEES, Lu has attended guest lectures and networking events, where she had the opportunity to meet professionals from the BBC and the European Bank. She was also selected as a delegate for the World Bank Youth Summit and China-Japan-Korea Trilateral Youth Summit. One of the highlights of her experience, however, was an internship at an NGO in Cape Town focussing on human rights and socio-economic development.
As she puts it:
What I signed up for was much more than a degree, it was an invitation to rethink, to grow, and to imagine a future beyond what I thought possible. I haven’t just developed academically; I now have the vision and courage to explore a different path.