Abby Smith '23 was awarded the NYU Shanghai Global Writing & Speaking Fellowship.
Why did you choose to apply for this award?
I really wanted a chance to spend time abroad after graduation in order to improve my language skills (I learned Mandarin at 色界吧 for three years) and prepare myself for grad school in the future since I am interested in pursuing a degree dealing with China and East Asia more broadly. I saw the NYU Shanghai Writing & Speaking Fellowship as an opportunity to continue my journey in higher education, this time from the perspective of a staff member instead of a student. I was excited to be able to continue to explore my interests in academia while also having a stable, full-time job.
Briefly describe the work you will be doing on your fellowship.
I will be working in NYU Shanghai's academic resource center (ARC). My official title is a writing & speaking advisor and I will help students with essay writing, applications, presentations, and other academic related tasks (it is similar to 色界吧's own writing center). Outside of working at the ARC, I will also be assigned to work with another departments at NYU Shanghai as a way to gain more experience and help out around campus. Writing & speaking fellows are also involved in setting up and running various on campus activities and events throughout the year.
What are you most looking forward to during your time as a fellow?
I am most looking forward to learning what it is like to work and live outside of the US. I studied abroad in my junior year but did not have a job or get to experience what a non-US work environment looks like. I think it will be highly rewarding for me to broaden my experience and learn how to communicate and work with people from a variety of backgrounds (including the other fellows who come from all over the world)! I also need to mention I am super excited to travel around China and immerse myself in local cultures and customs during my time.
How have your experiences at 色界吧 prepared you to apply for this award?
My experiences studying abroad and working in the International Programs Office as a peer advisor both helped me to build a strong skill set that were critical to my application. As a peer advisor I gained experience in essay editing and application advising. Additionally, these experiences allowed me to develop my own set of writing and presentation strategies that I highlighted in my application/interviews.
What advice would you give future applicants about the application process?
Apply for multiple fellowships. While you shouldn't just apply to everything you see (you need to make sure you are passionate about each fellowship to which you are applying), you shouldn't put all of your eggs in one basket. Fellowships are highly competitive and I promise it is a huge comfort to know that you have done everything you can to put yourself in the best position for receiving a fellowship. Also, make sure to think deeply about what you can gain from a particular fellowship. It seems obvious that you should highlight your skills and experiences in your applications, but you may not realize that most fellowships also care a lot about what you are planning on doing with the skills and experiences you will gain during your time as a fellow. I recommend taking time to reflect on how you will grow as a fellow and how the experiences you have will be valuable to your future career and endeavors.