Loran Scholar 2024: Katie Yu
Q: What does it mean for you to win this scholarship?
To me, winning this scholarship is a celebration of all the contributions I’ve made to the extracurricular activities I’ve been involved with, and a challenge to continue serving my community while pursuing academic excellence in university. I am beyond excited to continue making connections within the Loran community, and I am also incredibly grateful to have had access to the variety of opportunities and supports that helped me get to this point.
Q: How might this scholarship change your undergraduate experience?
I believe that the connections and mentorship are the most valuable aspects of the scholarship, as being exposed to so many different perspectives and life experiences will encourage me to take on new opportunities and broaden my interests. The financial award will also allow me to devote more time to extracurriculars and community service throughout my undergraduate journey, and while I plan on pursuing a co-op program, having to work in three different sectors will expose me to a variety of fields, work environments, and challenges.
Q: What do you envision yourself doing after you graduate? How do you plan to continue to be of service in your community?
After I graduate, I hope to be working in a position where I am actively contributing towards a just transition away from fossil fuels and promoting community involvement and awareness on clean energy. I also hope to continue volunteering with community organizations and taking on positions that promote youth leadership and/or youth wellbeing. I am super open to exploring new opportunities as I transition into my university community as well!
Q: What lessons did you take away from your Shad experience? Were any of them helpful through the Loran selection process?
At Shad, I learned to push myself out of my comfort zone through activities such as the running club, committees, and simply talking to new people. Having to work with a team on the design entrepreneurship project also strengthened my communication skills. All the experiences I had at Shad gave me the confidence to take on opportunities such as the Loran selections process. The skills I developed at Shad allowed me to get the most out of the selections process, as I was able to clearly express my own experiences and network with others.
Q: What advice do you have for those about to enter the Shad 2024 program?
Get to know your fellow Shads! Everyone you will meet is super interesting, and there is so much you can learn by simply having conversations with others. When I did Shad, we were often reminded to sit with different people at mealtimes, and I would definitely recommend this as well. Don’t forget to stay in touch with the friends you make afterwards, as they will all go on to do incredible things! Your fellow Shads will also become an amazing support system as you navigate the last year or two of high school and plan your next steps.
Want to meet the other 2024 Loran Scholars? Read their stories
