Research Associate Wei Spreads her Wings with GAIA : A Personal Reflection
Growing up in the small and safe bubble of Brunei, pursuing a career in international relations raised many eyebrows. Teachers, relatives and especially my parents were quick to point out that I simply did not make sense - why was I, a student from a pure science college interested in a career that is: (1) nowhere near the STEM route, (2) perceived to have very low chances of employment around the world, but especially in Brunei and therefore (3) is a high risk career in comparison those that are socially celebrated like medicine, engineering and law, among others. In all honesty, I did not have a single answer to their burning questions I knew were completely valid.
Although my love for international relations began ten years ago at a conference I attended in Seoul, South Korea, my journey in foreign policy did not kick off until I was halfway done with my bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology. It began at the tail’s end of 2020 with an essay competition hosted by the ASEAN-Korea Centre that a friend of mine and I participated in without much expectation. To our surprise, our entry gained the Special Recognition Award and became our first ever publication under our university’s Institute of Asian Studies Working Paper Series. Soon after in January 2021, I began my six month internship at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the year where Brunei was ASEAN Chair; it was this experience that led me to realise that I was determined to make the image I had of my career become a reality.
Shortly after completing my internship and at the brink of entering my final year of university, I chanced upon GAIA’s Instagram advertisement in their search for a potential Research Associate for their Global Analysis team that would be generally tasked to write research articles whilst providing logistical and management support to the organisation’s dialogues and events. I took a leap of faith and sent in my curriculum vitae, not knowing what to expect.
I took a leap of faith and sent in my curriculum vitae, not knowing what to expect.
In the blink of an eye, I was balancing the demands of my final year in university and my responsibilities as a Research Associate of GAIA. As a Research Associate, I assisted, co-organised and moderated our public dialogues on topics like transnational crimes, pandemic paradoxes and the role of women in foreign policy. Simultaneously, I also started writing and publishing research articles around Southeast Asian foreign affairs, among which today is featured on public sites like Fair Observer as well as edited volumes of think tanks like CSIS Indonesia and Pacific Forum.
Wei attends the Dialogue on Maritime Governance in the South China Sea in Manila, Philippines
Simultaneously, being a part of GAIA also grants me the opportunities to attend expert conferences both in person and virtually, and has given me a front row seat to observe and be a part of the expert negotiations and debates on pressing issues like maritime security, vaccine diplomacy and regional repercussions of national conflict, among others. Over time, with the wide range of opportunities to network and converse with local and international industry experts, I eventually rooted my research interests in Southeast Asian maritime security issues, specifically on the South China Sea territorial disputes.
Wei attends the Ocean Network Education Workshop in Southeast Asia in Taiwan
With my research interests in hand, I sought to prepare myself for my next chapter. As I continued navigating through my role at GAIA, I graduated with my Bachelors and felt incomplete; I knew I was going to pursue my postgraduate studies sooner or later. As such, I applied to several universities within Asia and with the support of my colleagues and recommendations from our Co-Founder. After nearly seven months of my application journey, I was able to finally secure my spot as a Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Scholar.
Under the scholarship, my first year will be focused on learning the Korean language, followed by a two year Masters in International Relations at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea. I am looking forward to attending courses that will allow me to understand the complexities of multilateralism, the role of ASEAN to its dialogue partners like South Korea and perhaps, even explore the possibilities of navigating the complex challenges of the South China Sea disputes together through more active collaboration with ASEAN's dialogue partners. Subsequently, I am eager to embark on internships and/or fellowships at relevant agencies - preferably think tanks - that would allow me to explore my goals and trajectories of being in Track 1.5 and Track 2 diplomacy.
Wei secures a scholarship and a spot at the prestigious Ewha Woman’s University in Seoul, South Korea for her Masters!
Moving my entire life to South Korea was disorienting at first. Although Seoul is home to two of my most important career milestones to date, I still find myself trying to balance the alienness and bittersweetness of being in the in between, returning to the world of academia whilst navigating the freeing highs and bumpy lows of a new life independently. Whilst I can tell that the road ahead to my end goal is still long and unfamiliar, I am eager to continue balancing my current responsibilities at GAIA, my academic journey and in the long run, embrace all the opportunities and challenges that come my way. I am grateful to GAIA for welcoming me with open arms and for providing me the safe space to explore, experiment and nurture my own research interests and ultimately, plan my own career trajectory with the values I carry with me as an aspiring foreign policy researcher.