I graduated from HKU in 2016 with a double major in American Studies and German. Currently, I work as the Regional Air Freight Operations and Compliance Manager at DHL, overseeing operational processes and quality within the Asia Pacific region. DHL was originally an American company and thus my training in U.S. history and culture has been quite useful in my current position.

The interdisciplinary and international nature of the American Studies Programme helped me develop a global perspective and it provided opportunities to explore the U.S. and its influence within multiple arenas. The multi-cultural understanding I acquired has helped me to develop strategies for effective intercultural communication which I have applied in my work at a multinational logistics company and with colleagues from America and all over the world. The programme also helped me become a more outspoken and confident person. The teaching staff nurtured a friendly and open-minded environment, encouraging students to think critically not just about the U.S. but also about local and global interactions, tolerance, and society more broadly. The awareness I gained about issues of gender and equal rights within the programme has encouraged me to seek out opportunities to work toward forms of diversity and inclusion, and to strive for effective change alongside my colleagues in the workplace and at the corporate level.

I am a doctoral student in School Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park, and I am passionate about promoting children’s socioemotional development. Prior to starting the Ph.D. program, I pursued a Master of Education (Ed.M.) in Human Development and Psychology at Harvard University, focusing on the links between early socioemotional development and parenting. Additionally, I worked as a Special Education Paraprofessional in a U.S. public school and a Behavior Technician in the Greater Boston area.

The interdisciplinary approach of the American Studies Programme at HKU provided a solid foundation for me to work and study in the United States. As the topics of anti-racism and diversity are gaining attention in America, I feel well-equipped to fully engage in my class discussions in graduate school based on my in-depth knowledge in American history, politics, and cultures. Academic knowledge aside, my training in the American Studies Programme sharpened my critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which have proven to be valuable and transferrable within a competitive job market.

I double majored in American Studies and Psychology. My coursework in American Studies fostered an interest in narrative and a desire to understand cultural, political, and societal contexts as told through personal stories. This motived me to explore documentary filmmaking, and in 2015 I co-directed a documentary about two Hong Kong baseball families. The trust, tears, and laughs shared by the film’s protagonists inspired me to pursue a degree in counseling, better equipping me to serve as a companion for those in need.

The multicultural, postcolonial, and intersectional perspectives considered in American Studies laid the foundation for me to use narrative therapy as a primary counseling approach in my work with marginalized groups, including those with mental or emotional problems, special education needs, and South Asian youths in Hong Kong. Now, I am instructor of narrative therapy courses and a registered counsellor.