By exposing us to fieldwork in a foreign country, I believe that the USP TOPs program will not only encourage me to become a more independent and passionate person in learning about the diversity and dynamics of the world, but also nurture in me a greater appreciation of how the cultural, political, and societal forces work with one another in society.

On a personal level, the program is an opportunity for me to widen my horizons and mature as an individual. I have never been to Indochina before, and I am very excited to learn about the cultures, cuisines, and community of Vietnam. Furthermore, I have never had the chance to interact with the local environment and people on such intimate levels before, like voluntarily initiating conversations or seeking their political or social opinions. By communicating with the locals there and submerging myself in their way of life, I trust that I will be exposed to diverse worldviews and perspectives of identity that I am unaccustomed to, and gain insights into their values and beliefs and my own. My social and communication skills can also develop. I may better understand my own position in the world through this experience.

In addition, placing me and my peers in a position of inquisition empowers us to initiate our own learning experience as we become proactive in pursuing knowledge. We will be driven to explore and learn about our own research topics in a mix of pressure and passion. As a USP scholar, I believe that this process is also crucial in allowing us to see that our abilities, however limited, can contribute to people beyond our immediate or perceived boundaries as we try to solve our research problems. Furthermore, the USP trip encourages us to comprehend a foreign world, Vietnam, as a community in relation to our own, and our responsibility as global citizens to it, teaching us the concept of shared responsibility to the world. By learning and interacting beyond our comfort zones, we grow and enhance our abilities to function as true global citizens who learn and contribute to society regardless of origin or creed.

I believe that this program can also enhance my education in NBS by exposing me to a different economic and political situation. The current business world is intricately interconnected, and cultural understanding is crucial in making right business choices. I believe that visiting this new place can give me inspiration with regards to the complexities of how businesses in different societies work, and even possible connections. This will also be a rare chance for me to increase my adeptness in approaching and maintaining relationships with strangers, a skill crucial to the diverse work environment.

I also hope that my group will be able to achieve independence and embrace spontaneity in the passion of learning, and grow closer to one another in the process. In the process, we might even find certain ‘niches’ that we excel in, like writing, photography or liaison and grow from there.