Alumni Spotlight: Christina Chen

Meet Christina Chen. She is an alumni of Economics for Leaders 2020 UC Berkeley virtual program. She recently participated in the World Economics Cup as part of Team USA and brought home 2nd place overall!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Christina Chen, and I’m a senior at University High School in Tucson, Arizona. I am deeply involved in my school’s marching band, where I am a Percussion Section Leader, as well as clubs such as Varsity Economics, where I compete in various economics competitions, and Unity Club, where I tutor local refugees with school subjects. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family, reading, and traveling.

How did you get involved in World Economics Cup?
I got involved in the World Economics Cup through my economics teacher, Mr. Lerch, who informed us about this unique opportunity. I ended up competing with Team USA in a team of 6, and our group won 2nd place overall out of the 48 participating teams from 33 countries. Individually, I received an Aggregate Silver Award and Top 25 out of 251 competitors in the Deep Comprehension section of the competition.

What lessons did you take away from your participation in EFL?
I attended the UC Berkeley Economics for Leaders program the summer after my junior year in 2020, where I learned about invaluable introspection skills that shaped my perception of what it means to be an effective leader. Through the Domains of Leadership Model, I learned to evaluate how the different areas of leadership, such as personal or relational, intersect to form a well-rounded leader. After high school, I plan to pursue a degree in Economics or Public Policy.