What I learned as a SOS student leader

Cindy Liu
Cindy Liu
Aug 31, 2018 · 3 min read
The students with their certificates after the closing ceremony

It’s been almost three weeks since I left Jishou, and a little over two since I arrived in Cambodia for my year-long PiA fellowship. The transition out of an experience like Princeton in Jishou — regardless of where you go or what you do after — is never easy. I went from sharing an apartment with 5 other people to living by myself. I used to be able to walk 5 minutes down the street for delicious Chinese food, and now I have to call a tuk-tuk to get to a proper restaurant. I had just gotten used to managing a class of thirty college students; now I start losing my voice after an hour with a class of fifteen 12-year olds. I miss Jishou the way I miss somewhere that feels like home.

Over the summer, students and fellow SOSers inevitably asked me why I decided to return to Jishou. My parents had asked the same question but with the ulterior motive of trying to talk me out of going back. My answer was that Jishou showed me the meaning of kindness, the value of human connection, and what it feels like to be truly happy. Selfishly, I also knew that going back as the student leader would be an incredible leadership learning opportunity.

And it was.

This summer, I felt a sense of confidence in my leadership that I often admired in co-leaders but never thought I possessed during previous leadership experiences. I’ve led many outdoor orientation and even leader training trips through Princeton’s Outdoor Action program, but I frequently looked to others to step in or to speak up in delicate or tough situations. This time, I felt comfortable addressing these situations on my own, and I recognized that any shortcomings in my approach were necessary for my growth as a leader.

My experiences this summer affirmed my love for learning about people and seeing them grow and open up over the course of an experience like PiJ. I embraced the challenges of coaching and guiding people through uncertain interpersonal situations, and though I usually protect my sleep schedule to a fault, I didn’t mind staying up until 2am to think about how to time and frame activities that could bring the group together. I yearned to understand where people were coming from and what motivated them. I was grateful to be able to serve as a listening ear and someone others felt comfortable approaching with personal thoughts and questions.

From situations that didn’t go as well as I would’ve liked, I also learned about my areas for growth. I want to work on being more patient with group development and assuming the best in people before making judgments or taking action. There were times I was frustrated at situations I didn’t know all the details about, and I want to learn to remain more level-headed even when others may be flustered. I want to be more confident in my gut instinct towards interpersonal situations.

For our closing activity, each of us shared something we appreciated about every other person in the group this summer. What others said about me showed me strengths in my leadership I’d never considered before. I learned that my efforts to be reflective influenced others to approach their time in Jishou with more thoughtfulness. I was happy to hear that my intentionality and deliberateness paid off and that others saw me as someone they could talk to openly and vulnerably. Most of all, my heart was full from all the love, appreciation and care I saw between everyone in the group.

Near the end of PiJ, a friend asked me what was different about this time in Jishou. I thought about it for a while and said: last time I felt like I was just along for the ride, but this time, I felt like I was in charge of the direction we were heading.

PiJ is truly a magical experience. Regardless of the role you play, there is always something to learn.

Summer of Service 2018

Princeton in Asia's Summer of Service program in Jishou, China

    Cindy Liu

    Written by

    Cindy Liu

    Princeton in Asia fellow — Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Princeton ’18

    Summer of Service 2018

    Princeton in Asia's Summer of Service program in Jishou, China

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