Hello, I’m Chu Chu, a dual-degree undergraduate student at Duke Kunshan University and Duke University, majoring in Political Economy and Interdisciplinary Studies. My academic journey is complemented by a diverse portfolio of leadership roles, ranging from serving as co-president of the DKU House Council to building professional communities for Deloitte and PwC recruitment. Through these experiences, I have cultivated a passion for empowering communities, solving challenges collaboratively, and fostering inclusivity. I am applying for the Duke Kunshan Student Leaders Board because I believe in the power of student voices to shape a thriving campus community. Having managed large-scale events that engaged over 200 participants and addressed pressing student concerns as a residence life assistant, I understand the impact of proactive, empathetic leadership. My goal is to bridge the gap between students and university leadership by providing thoughtful insights, co-creating impactful initiatives, and advocating for student needs in areas like mental health, cultural integration, and academic support. If selected, I hope to introduce programs that not only address current student concerns but also create sustainable systems for future cohorts. For example, I aim to develop platforms for open dialogue between students and administrators, enhancing transparency and trust in decision-making. Additionally, I aspire to collaborate with peers to celebrate the diversity within our community, ensuring every student feels a sense of belonging. Joining the SLB is an opportunity to give back to the DKU community while growing as a leader who listens, acts, and inspires. Together, we can make DKU a benchmark for inclusive and dynamic student leadership. Thank you for considering my application.
My name is Tekla Anna Takács, but I just go by Tekla. I am a junior student from Hungary. I am majoring in Ethics and Leadership with tracks in Philosophy. I have so far been involved in various ways in shaping the DKU community. From working with incoming students, so one might say the future of DKU, through supporting students as an RA, to ensuring that all students feel heard and have a sense of home while studying abroad at Duke. I care deeply for the DKU community. I believe that our University is more than just a school. It is a place of personal growth, a place where all students are welcomed, and a place where the community is the beauty. I am applying to the Student Leaders Board in order to help advocate for my fellow students, to help shape the University even more for the needs of the students, and also for my own personal growth. With my major being Ethics and Leadership, I find that the best way to develop my Leadership skills is through experience. So far, DKU has provided me with so many great opportunities. But nothing comes as close of a responsibility and opportunity as the Student Leaders Board. I believe that by serving in the Student Leaders Board, I could develop my leadership skills further in new settings, and gain experience in my main interest, which is intercultural leadership. By serving in the Student Leaders Board, my main goal would be to switch the current, most prevalent, way of thinking of “working for the students”, into “working WITH the students”.