Jackson Martin

I chose to study Chinese Language and Literature because of my experience living and studying in Xi'an, China from 2016-2020. I realized from that experience the diversity and richness of Chinese and other East Asian cultures, and wanted to study in a program that captured that diversity. EALC couldn't have been a better fit. EALC faculty provided me with the opportunities, resources, and support to build on my past experience and to engage with others who share my passion for Asia studies. For example, I worked with my Chinese language teacher and EALC Chair Professor Xiao to translate and publish an essay from Chinese to English. I also received a FLAS Fellowship to study Chinese over the summer with the Princeton in Beijing program, which gave me the opportunity to bond with students from diverse backgrounds while rapidly improving my language skills.

After leaving KU, I moved to Washington, DC to pursue my Masters in International Relations with a concentration in China studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) with a full-tuition fellowship. In Spring 2022, I completed an internship in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. In Spring 2023, I will be the Editor-in-Chief of the SAIS China Studies Review, a student-run academic journal focused on China. The EALC faculty and classes at KU exposed me to aspects of Chinese society and culture that I believe are essential for creating policies to improve and deepen US-China relations. My experience with EALC motivated my decision to pursue a graduate degree at a professional school renowned for China studies and gave me the knowledge and skills required to excel in such an intensive program. Specifically, the courses on Chinese film, classical Chinese, Chinese politics and philosophy, and East Asian history allow me to analyze recent political developments in Asia using multiple lenses that many students and policymakers overlook.

Studying in EALC was the most rewarding experiences of my academic and professional career for two reasons. First, the curriculum and excellent faculty gave me foundational knowledge about East Asia in general while also allowing me to focus on my main interest, China. This allowed me to show employers and graduate schools that I had both specific expertise as well as general knowledge, which was instrumental in getting an internship with the State Department outside my specific focus area. Second, EALC taught me HOW to learn about new societies and cultures. By exposing me to so many unique aspects of East Asian culture and history, the EALC program gave me the skills needed and taught me the questions to ask to gain a deeper understanding of any society or culture.