“My undergraduate year abroad changed my life”

Leon Yuchin Lau, an undergraduate student at Sciences Po, has just been offered a contract to become a foreign service officer with the government of Singapore. While he originally intended to follow his undergraduate education with a Master's degree, Leon changed his plan and decided to enter the professional world.

He explains why he opted for this unusual – yet promising – path.

You have recently been offered a permanent contract to become a foreign service officer with the government of Singapore. To what extent did your studies at Sciences Po help you get this job proposal?

I was fortunate enough to receive a government scholarship after high school, which enabled me to pursue my studies here at Sciences Po in the first place. Over the course of my studies, I was then able to experience working with the Foreign Service on overseas internships. This gave me the opportunity to gain knowledge of how diplomacy works on the ground. I think being at Sciences Po trained me very well in terms of unpacking potentially complex political and social issues. The emphasis on writing critically, and formulating clear points and arguments, also helped to satisfy the analytical aspect of the job.

Deciding to enter the job market right after your undergraduate studies is an unusual choice, especially in Europe where students tend to complete their education to the highest possible level before seeking employment. Why do you feel that working right after graduation is the best option for you? What triggered your decision?

My undergraduate year abroad changed my life. No kidding, it really did. I was very impressed by the can-do attitude here in the U.S., and Americans in general are a very optimistic bunch. The importance placed on theory and philosophy is tremendous at Sciences Po, and in France, and it can sometimes hinder young people from being more hands-on, and doing something off the beaten path so to speak. But being in America gave me a chance to look at all the innovation and improvisation that can happen when you free yourself of those expectations. I really admired this sense of dynamism and experimentation that I felt, especially in Los Angeles, and I figured working was important to gain more practical experience.

During your undergraduate year abroad at the University of Southern California, you interned at the Los Angeles Mayor's Office. Which tasks were you assigned there?

As part of a USC class on American government, I was placed to work for Mayor Eric Garcetti on the issue of immigration in the City of LA. I was tasked to write briefing papers, memos and do statistical and qualitative research on immigration policies across the country. It was definitely eye-opening to see how American government works at ground level, and where the conversation on immigration is going in America.

How is it to work in the U.S. political structure during the American presidential primaries ? Does it give a new perspective on government?

Firstly, speaking as an outsider, it was fascinating to see how complex the political system is from inside the beast. The scale of bureaucracy is immense – from city and county, to state and federal levels – and it is impossible to have all entities working on the same page. Yet somehow, there is an organized chaos to it one can only marvel at. Immigration is a perpetual hot issue today in the presidential debate, but people easily forget that the White House is just a tiny piece of the puzzle. For example, Obama's immigration reforms (DACA/DAPA) have been stalled since 2014, but states, counties and cities continue to balance around policy restrictions, and continue working on their own agendas to help naturalize citizens. The system still runs, and the US still moves ahead. No single president can dictate how this country is run, least of all ruin it in a decade.

You joined the Euro-American programme on the Reims campus after finishing high school in Singapore. Why was studying transatlantic relations in France important to you?

I wanted to broaden my horizons and study somewhere that wasn't an obvious choice. Most students from Singapore who study abroad choose the UK or US, where the Anglo-American culture is most comfortable for them (Singapore follows the British A Level system). Having learned French from age 13, I found the idea of the Euro-American programme and its bilingual campus in Reims a very unique model. It appealed to my desire to continue honing my French, while following a very multidisciplinary curriculum in English.

The comparative dimension of "transatlantic relations" also gave me an important angle of analysis to study various political and social systems of the world. Being an outsider to North America and Europe, but growing up speaking better English than Mandarin, it was one of the strangest but most comforting experiences being in a campus where my friends' identities were so global, just like mine. In many ways, the campus was a social experiment that led to many exchanges of cultural viewpoints.

During your studies in Reims you were part of the Bureau des Elèves [an association organising student events throughout the academic year]. Why are extra-curricular activities important to student fulfilment?

I felt that being part of the BDE taught me more about the city of Reims. One of the most important elements of running a good BDE is the contacts and networks you have to make events happen, and keeping good relations with the community of Reims was essential to having successful events like our legendary Yelloween (sponsored by Veuve Clicquot Champagne) and the year-end Gala. More generally, having a life outside of academics was important because it kept the balance. Sciences Po students work notoriously hard because we have two years to finish a three-year curriculum, so that we can go on our third year abroad. Clubs and associations allow us to destress, develop artistic and sporting pursuits, and of course, have some champagne-fueled fun once in a while.

You will begin work in July as a junior diplomat, after studying at Sciences Po and interning in a political office. Do you have passions in life other than politics?

Not really, all I do is watch House of Cards and twiddle my thumbs when the screen goes black. [laughs] Well, politics aside, I'm usually very motivated to find the next great restaurant or bar. Living in a city thrills me – the food and dining scene here in LA is unparalleled, although Singapore cuisine is hard to find. Every once in a while, I love being close to nature, and Southern California offers very good hikes. But one thing's for sure, the way to my heart is through the stomach.

Learn more about the Europe-North America undergraduate programme at Sciences Po

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