©UNHCR/Gordon Yamba20SHINDO-BRAATEN, Mio Class of 2011 The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)YO, Marilena Class of 2016 McKinsey & Company, Inc.QURESHI, Amin Class of 2017 Harvard University, Harvard Divinity SchoolI entered SILS to gain a qualification that is internationally recognized, with an objective to become a UN official. Prior to SILS I was a high school and baking school graduate who juggled multiple jobs. Through wide range of possibilities offered by SILS, I was able to develop the essential skills needed in my career – communication, organization, time management, teamwork, logical and analytical thinking, leadership, and problem-solving. I started working for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2013 and obtained master’s degree in 2014. Today I work in the Republic of Zambia as Associate Protection Officer, protecting refugees in Africa. My message to SILS is: “Find your dream, but do not keep on dreaming and make the dream an objective and define concrete steps forward.”What did I gain at SILS? Perspective! SILS is a great place to explore and learn about your-self. Alumni are scattered across all imaginable disciplines. You all start at the same place, but SILS gives you flexibility to let your interests unfold and the support to pursue a specific direction within your studies once you are ready. When I started at SILS I was curious about everything: history, art, psychology, literature, but soon I realized that I wanted to pursue studies within the political sciences. After graduating from SILS I got a Master’s degree at the LSE before joining McKinsey as a consultant. I still love to explore, which is why I work on projects across industries reaching from public sector projects to the fashion industry.My personal, spiritual, and academic journey was influenced by the inspiring people I met at SILS. One of them was a professor who encouraged me to study abroad in Pakistan, my father’s home country, where I could explore my identity. She also supported me in pursuing further graduate studies at Waseda and Harvard after graduation. Another was a friend who shared my mixed heritage of being half-Japanese and half-Pakistani, who helped me overcome my prejudice against Muslims. These interactions sparked and shaped my interests in identity, philosophy, and religion, which I pursued in both graduate schools. These interests have not only fueled my personal growth but also inspired me to give back to my community through frequent public talks and helping establish youth groups. I aspire for a future where my skills and knowledge will affect more positive changes for others. I enrolled in SILS to open my gateway to becoming a United Nations official.It is important to believe in your own potential and not to give up on your dreams.Graduates of SILS who have studied habits of mind and foundational concepts through various disciplines are currently active in many different industries and fields.Encounters with teachers and friends sparked deep reflections on identity, motivating my research and activism. From Alumni
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