Lydia Chan

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“Hard work, passion, and determination played an important role in helping me get to where I am today. Failure has only taught me to push harder and perservere because doors open when you least expect it and this makes the journey to success so much more rewarding and empowering.”

  • Program: 2012 Graduate Scholarship Recipient
  • Hometown: Singapore

Biography

Profile: Lydia Chan, a native of Singapore and an Undergraduate Transfer Scholar from 2009, had a fabulous academic career at Columbia University, from which she graduated in 2012. Bound for the Teachers College, also at Columbia, Lydia discussed the class that opened her eyes to her future career in education. “A class that I took called "Children at Risk" opened my eyes to the many obstacles that children growing up in urban areas face. Education is the key to ending this poverty cycle, and I strongly believe that working in the field of education policy would allow me to instigate this much-needed change in our school systems in order to provide sustainable resources that would positively affect the lives of many.”

Inspiration: Lydia said Professor Geraldine Downey taught a Developmental Psychology class where she shared her experiences volunteering with incarcerated women and their children. “Through her insight and passion for her work, she has proven to be a wonderful mentor that has influenced my trajectory and the choices that I have made since taking her class.”
 
Aspiration: Lydia is hoping for a career in education policy. She firmly believes that education policy can be used to promote learning and provide opportunities to the under-served. “A graduate degree will help me better address issues pertaining to social justice and equity in education and will provide the tools necessary to bring about the much-needed reform in our nation’s education system.”
 
Making a Difference: Together with other Scholars in the New York City area, Lydia spearheaded a College Day workshop at an urban high school in the Bronx. “We shared our life experiences and how education and the support of the Foundation has led us to where we are today,” Lydia said. “We provided concrete and realistics steps to the college application process to these juniors who would otherwise have fallen through the cracks of our education system.” 
 
Accolades: Lydia graduated summa cum laude from Westchester Community College and cum laude from Columbia. Lydia was constantly on the Dean’s List at Columbia.
 
Interesting Fact: Lydia’s immediate family is spread out over three continents.

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