Where Are They Now: Kevin Zhou, 2005 Profile in Courage Essay Contest Winner
This series profiles past winners of the Profile in Courage Essay Contest — which is currently open for submissions from U.S. high school students, with a $10,000 first prize scholarship. Our deadline is January 6th.
You were a first-place winner of the 2003 Profile in Courage Essay Contest. Tell us about that experience. What drew you to the contest? What was most rewarding about the experience? Most challenging?
I was truly honored to win the Profile in Courage Essay Contest. The most rewarding part of my experience was flying to Boston and receiving the award from Senator Ted Kennedy, a personal hero of mine who had dedicated his life to public service. I was also grateful to have the opportunity to meet Caroline Kennedy and was deeply moved after hearing the experiences of the Profile in Courage Award Winners. The overall experience was extremely inspiring and reaffirmed my interest in pursuing a career in public service.
What are you doing at the moment? What is most important about it? Is there a particular idea, topic, or issue that is driving your work and thinking at the moment?
I currently serve in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as Country Director for India Policy. In this capacity, I have an opportunity to write policy papers and briefing memos on U.S.-India defense relations for senior defense leadership, including the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense. I also traveled to Delhi twice earlier this year to support negotiations on the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative, a Presidential-level effort aimed at strengthening the bilateral defense relationship. Prior to entering public service, I graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard College. Following college, I received a full tuition scholarship from the Frank Buck Foundation to pursue my graduate studies in the United Kingdom, receiving M. Phil degrees from the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford.
What impact did participating in (and winning) the Profile in Courage Essay Contest have on you?
After winning the Profiles in Courage Essay Contest, I decided to major in Government at Harvard College. I wanted to deepen my understanding of domestic and foreign policy challenges, and these experiences ultimately led me to my current position in government.
What advice would you give to potential Profile in Courage Essay Contest participants?
I would advise participants to choose a topic that they are genuinely interested in, examine it from all angles, and question the assumptions that may prevail in primary and secondary sources. And try to have fun!
If you’re a U.S. high school student or have a friend or family member who is one, let them know about the Profile in Courage Essay Contest. There’s still time to submit — our deadline is January 6th.
