Jimson Sulit, a UPOU multimedia studies student, was chosen to attend Harvard conference on international relations.Jimson Sulit, a UPOU Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) student, was chosen as one of the 200 delegates from all over the world to attend the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) Harvard Conference on 12-15 February 2016 at Harvard University, USA. Over 5,000 applicants competed for the slots.
HPAIR is a student-run organization at Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The program aims to provide a dynamic forum exchange on international issues vital to Asia, foster long-term relationships among young leaders from around the globe, and connect talented delegates with today's leaders in academe, business and government (hpair.org).
Mr. Sulit currently works as a business analyst for an IT firm based in Greenhills, San Juan while finishing his undergraduate degree in multimedia studies at UPOU. According to Mr. Sulit, he learned about the conference through his friend from Poland who previously participated in an HPAIR conference. When asked how he was chosen, he wrote "It was a mix of different factors. The screening process is highly selective and tedious. I had to answer and submit numerous essays detailing my skills and experiences, as well as knowledge of the latest Asian and International relations issues and topics. The essays that I have submitted were reviewed by the Harvard organizing committee and this was just the first part of the screening process." He added that has previously been chosen as a conference ambassador and delegate for the HPAIR Asia Conference in Manila in August 2015.
The conference taught Mr. Sulit much. "First, I have learned that the future belongs to those who see learning as a never-ending process." He also learned that the power of networking is overwhelmingly underrated. "I thought that for these kinds of events, it's just protocol to mingle with people. But once you get to know people deeply and you find out that you share numerous goals and values, it is so much easier to collaborate on different projects and undertakings."
Mr. Sulit appreciated the flexibility that UPOU gave him – being able to work and study and participate in different conferences and events. According to him, UPOU has been instrumental in defining a clearer vision for his future with its helpful community. He encouraged those who wish to pursue degrees in UPOU to challenge themselves and their limitations. "The challenges are big but the opportunities are even greater," he stated. (Anna Cañas-Llamas and Criscelle Moya-Pobre)
