Emma Lee – Class of 2024

Emma Lee inspires with her passion in the Humanities, and her dedicated efforts to share such a joy in learning makes her a reliable President of the Eunoia Humanities Programme (EHP) and a true Thinker with Heart. She reflects on her own struggles in her journey and how she has grown to help others overcome their own self-limiting beliefs as well:

“My journey in EJ was not always smooth-sailing – it was rife with both academic and personal struggles. However, through stepping out of my comfort zone and intentionally pursuing the things that scared me the most, I learnt to trust myself and my abilities. As someone with a severe case of ‘imposter syndrome’, the challenges I faced in EJ proved to be especially difficult yet necessary learning experiences. Additionally, my involvement in EHP put me in a unique position for positive change,  where I was able to both bolster my personal passion while serving as an advocate for the arts and humanities in EJ. Despite the moments of self-doubt and uncertainty, having a strong support system, especially in the form of my friends and teachers, propelled me to constantly search for ways to better myself and those around me. 

Despite the countless memories this school has left me, the one that stands out to me the most is the Eunoia GO (EHP) trip to South Korea. From late-night convenience store runs to crawling through a tunnel in the DMZ, this trip was nothing short of exciting yet meaningful. I will never forget moments like watching the sun set at Namsan Tower or sharing a piping hot corndog with my friends on the streets of Myeongdong. Beyond the moments of play, however, what truly stuck out to me was the opportunity to constantly reflect and engage in rigorous discussions with  like-minded peers and my teachers. Such candid conversations granted me a safe space to not only voice my perspectives, but to have them challenged by those around me. Forging new bonds with fellow EHP-peers  (and even with the locals!) and broadening my horizons through every school and historical site visited, all culminated in an experience I will never forget.

I would like to thank my family for being my rock and always reminding me of the importance of finding strength in the quiet moments before taking on life’s next hurdle. I am also deeply grateful to  my friends (both old and new) for always believing in me, especially when I struggled to do so myself. Without their words of encouragement and unwavering support, I would not have possessed the courage to take (several!) leaps of faith during my journey in EJC, especially in terms of leadership opportunities. Lastly, I am thankful for all the teachers, whose passion for the humanities would always rekindle my own, even in the face of academic fatigue and stress. Constantly going out of their way to make every lesson just a little more enjoyable – whether it's through hilarious (and sometimes bizarre) historical role-plays or blasting Olivia Rodrigo songs during lectures – is something I have and will always cherish.”