In light of the soon-to-be, Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, I was curious to learn how the ideals of the American Dream—freedom, individualism, and upward mobility—resonate with people in Malaysia and the Philippines, where meaningful lives are built on values beyond material success.
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In Peru and many other countries in Latin America, it is extremely difficult for indigenous people to find sustainable and culturally conscious ways to earn money and support their families and communities. For many of these people, their primary source of income is agricultural production and sale. However, in a region that is so susceptible to drastic weather and climate changes, it is difficult to successfully produce and sell fruits, vegetables, and animal products.
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The Amazon, the world’s most expansive rainforest, contains multitudes of plants and indigenous knowledge that help people around the world. The Amazon covers more than six million square kilometers and is considered the most biodiverse place on earth.
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Linda Chan was a biology major at the University of Pennsylvania aspiring to become a pediatrician or primary care physician. “Life’s twists” led her to switch to nursing during her sophomore year. Now, almost 2 years into the field, Linda is a licensed nurse, enjoying the support she offers her patients and their loved ones at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center in Los Angeles. Here, she offers a behind the scenes look into her life as a registered nurse.
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Spending a month in Japan, I started my journey in the cities. The cities, including Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, were filled with hustle and bustle.
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This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to attend the International Society for Stem Cell Research Annual Summit in Hamburg, Germany to present my first leading author poster about the research I have been conducting at the Cheng Lab in the Columbia Stem Cell Initiative. During this conference, stem cell scientists from around the world come together to discuss the latest breakthroughs in developmental and regenerative research and medicine, all from new organoid models to study disease and forthcoming clinical trials to treat rare conditions.
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One aspect that sets the Milken Scholars Program apart from traditional scholarship awards is its commitment to provide lifelong support to Scholars. Throughout their post-college years, Alumni are invited to dive deeper into the world connected with the Milken Institute and Milken Family Foundation. This year, Alumni were invited to attend the 2024 Ellis Island Medal of Honor Ceremony in New York and the 2024 Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles.
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From August 4th to 10th, I embarked on a deeply personal and educational journey to Lahore, Pakistan. As my home country, Pakistan holds a special place in my heart, with its vibrant culture, rich history, and the widely practiced religion of Islam.
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Education is an essential pillar of the Milken Family Foundation and important for encouraging people to lead “productive and satisfying” lives. Following this mission, I am incredibly grateful and honored to have returned to my motherland, Taiwan, one decade later to embark on a personal endeavor to learn about and revisit Taiwanese culture and identity. The two elements I was most excited about exploring were street markets and temples, as they are two important sites of community building and gathering for Taiwanese people.
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In June 2018, twelve boys and their coach were trapped in a flooded cave system in Tham Luang, Northern Thailand, and an unprecedented international rescue effort ensued. There were many factors that increased the difficulty of this rescue mission: the size and complexity of the cave network, the lack of food and water, lowering oxygen levels in the air pockets where the boys took shelter, and heavy rainfall in the region which exacerbated the flooding. Due to the flooding, only highly-trained and specialized divers could perform the rescue.
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The Milken Institute’s mission is to advance the world’s progress on discovering the path to meaningful life for those in developing countries and prepare the world for what’s coming next. I can’t say that I brought anything incrementally valuable to the people in the countries that I visited, but I certainly left with an hugely increased appreciation and understanding for the community and cultural dynamics that street food ties together.
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2024 marks the Milken Scholars Program’s 35th anniversary since it was founded by Mike and Lori Milken in 1989. The Milken Scholars Program has grown from its original 16 Scholars from the A. Philip Randolph High School in Harlem, New York to a family of over 575 Scholars, representing over 80 countries and selected from more than 200 high schools across Los Angeles County, New York City and Washington, D.C. As of 2014, the Milken Scholars Program became a joint initiative of the Milken Family Foundation and the Milken Institute.
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