I'm thrilled about the learning path I've crafted for my BA in Integrated Social Sciences (ISS). I've managed to tailor my schedule to a manageable two courses per quarter, which is about all I can handle while working full-time. To my delight, I discovered that I could potentially complete my degree by next spring. Mapping out my ISS journey this week has reinvigorated my enthusiasm for the road ahead.
My learning plan is strategically focused on two primary thematic areas that resonate deeply with me: Information & Technology and Inequalities & Power. These domains align perfectly with my current role as a technologist at T-Mobile, where I'm immersed in shaping our company's digital experience strategy. A gap I've noticed in the tech sector is the scarcity of social scientists. We're tasked with leveraging new technologies to simplify tasks and enhance connectivity, but the broader societal implications often go unexamined. I'm curious about the societal fissures that may widen due to the unchecked spread of misinformation on social media or the unforeseen inequalities that technological leaps could spawn in the coming decade. My coursework in Media Ethics and Press & Politics in the United States will be a springboard to probe these issues and uncover even more questions.
In my intellectual biography, I mentioned my selection for T-Mobile's exclusive career development program, which transitioned high-performing frontline workers to roles at headquarters, collaborating with seasoned product managers. This was my inaugural foray into the corporate world, and it was instrumental in demystifying the corporate lexicon, operational models, and the skills necessary to thrive. Yet, this experience also surfaced new questions for me. Why was such a program so selective? Why did it necessitate uprooting my life, distancing myself from friends and family? In Asian cultures, the family unit is sacrosanct. Convincing my parents that this move was essential for my career was challenging—they even offered financial incentives for me to stay. I also grappled with the realization that to succeed in this environment, I had to conform to standards that have long marginalized anyone who didn't fit the mold of the archetypal straight, white male. I'm hopeful that my studies in Race Relations and Comparative Colonialism will allow me to deconstruct these standards and explore these issues more deeply.
Achieving my BA in ISS is more than just a milestone—it's about confronting the 'elephant in the room' and reconciling with a goal that has loomed large over me. I aspire to do more than just earn a degree; I want to immerse myself in understanding the societal role of technology and the daily inequalities forged by existing power structures. My ambition is to evolve into a more conscientious technologist, one who is mindful of the broader impact of our products and how they might shape the world at large. I aim to be a more empathetic global citizen, attuned to the diverse experiences we all navigate, and committed to challenging the status quo that perpetuates inequality.