My Aspirations To Be An Economist
A volunteer trip in 2017 led me to a remote town in Malaysian Borneo - Kapit, Sarawak. Only accessible by a three-hour boat ride, the 7-day mission was perhaps the most eye-opening experience, where I observed the deviation in living standards in developing regions. Having helped in a rice plantation, I witnessed the severity of chronic destitution, as farmers whose harvests are responsible for feeding the entire Sarawak are barely able to feed themselves. Gaining a first-hand insight into extreme poverty, I observed farmers who are trapped in the cycle of oppressive debt.
Due to their low income, they had turned to moneylenders for credit. Their impoverished conditions and endless battle with predatory debt has transpired my interest in development economics to find the panacea. This has led me to reading ‘The End Of Poverty’ by Jeffrey Sachs, which suggested that poverty could be eliminated by 2025 through meticulously devised development aid. Despite the government's allocation for rural areas in the federal fiscal budget, the dire situation in Kapit has seen no improvement. I deduced from ‘The Price of Inequality' by Stiglitz that the progress in these developing regions is usually hindered by corruption and money politics, where the individuals abuse their political power for self-interest. Having debated these issues, I recognised the need of a check-and-balance system to be imposed on the federal governments by the United Nations to ensure total poverty alleviation. My desire to improve the lives of farmers encouraged me to read Amartya Sen's Development As Freedom. ' I explored the significance of market-oriented approach taken at a grassroots level to spur the Kapitan economy. Having attended Professor Muhammad Yunus' public lecture on poverty, microfinance captivated me for its ability to usher farmers into the formalised sector by giving them access to affordable capital.
Through 'Blockchain Revolution, I found a link between microfinance with peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding that eliminates the intermediary role of commercial banks. Paradoxically, I believe that the convenience and ease to obtain funding equates to high risk of default due to inconsistent crop yields. As I aspire to be an economist, I participated in an economic case study contest organized by the LSE Malaysia Alumni and won the ‘Best Speaker’ award. I had used social impact assessment and high development theory to advise the fictitious developing nation to run on deficit to invest on infrastructure. My framework was based on the potential ripple effect that catapult the economy virtuous cycle of economic growth. I had worked at a healthcare startup on a part-time basis during my highschool years. I had gained invaluable experience in handling data and metrics to measure effectiveness of branding campaigns. Eisenhower's Matrix gave me an edge, as I learnt to prioritize and manage my time effectively. ‘The Lean Startup' opened my eyes to management and agile governance. My internship at an airline involved enhancing employees' work experience. To foster Douglas McGregor's Theory Y, I assisted the HR department in organizing weekly self-development workshops. I spend my free time perusing McKinsey Analytics and The Economist to learn about the latest management trends.
The low usage of English in my high school inspired me to co-found Toastmasters Club. During my incumbency, I led a team of 8 EXCOs and liaised with NGOs to raise funds for our quarterly public speaking workshops. I had helped 12 students to achieve Competent Communicator' certification. Currently, I am on the verge of chartering Economics Club at college. To scale up local entrepreneurs in my town, I volunteered to teach digital marketing at a co-working space for 3 months. I look forward to continue fostering my social responsibility at university. I would relish the opportunity to inquire at greater depth and find the catholicon to my academic inquiries through the study of Economics.
