Post by Zihang Peng

As 2025 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on a year defined by unlearning, relearning, and intentional movement toward impact. This year, I graduated from Reed College in May, and in the fall, I began my master’s studies at the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, pursuing a degree in Global Policy. For someone whose twelve years of education before college were unfolded entirely within China’s public education system, this transition was more than geographical or institutional—it was epistemic. It reshaped how I understand knowledge, inquiry, and the responsibility that comes with learning. Reed challenged me to move beyond the pursuit of “right answers” and instead cultivate sharper questions—questions attentive to ambiguity and social consequences. That experience fundamentally redirected my academic trajectory and clarified what kind of work I want my thinking to serve. My undergraduate path—a major in Philosophy, with minors in Film & Media Studies and Economics—was a deliberate attempt to build an interdisciplinary lens: Philosophy trained me to interrogate ethical foundations: responsibility, virtue, and human judgment. Film & Media Studies sharpened my sensitivity to narrative, like how stories shape public understanding and policy reception. Economics grounded my thinking in institutional constraints and the material realities of development and governance. Together, these disciplines led me toward global development and policy analysis, a space where values must confront institutions, and where good intentions require analytical rigor to become durable outcomes. What continues to drive me is a demanding question: How can moral commitments be translated into policies that are not only well-intentioned, but effective, equitable, and accountable—especially in unequal and complex global contexts? Looking ahead to 2026, my focus is on synthesis and application. I aim to deepen my engagement with policy-oriented research and practice, particularly in development, governance, and social impact. My goal is to contribute work that bridges ethical reasoning, empirical analysis, and contextual understanding—and to collaborate with organizations that take complexity seriously rather than simplify it away. For myself, I am committed to building a path where critical thinking meets responsible action, and where intellectual ambition is matched by humility and care for real-world consequences. I’m deeply grateful to the mentors, peers, and institutions at Reed College and Boston University who made this year of transition possible. I step into 2026 with clarity, curiosity, and a growing sense of responsibility for how—and why—I choose to work in this field. Here’s to the next chapter🎆 #GlobalPolicy #InternationalDevelopment #Governance #SocialImpact #ReedCollege #BostonUniversity #PardeeSchool #PolicyAnalysis #NGOCareers #CareerReflection