Ian Cho ‘26
Last summer, Carter Hudson ‘25 was awarded the A.A. Jones Family International Studies Grant to travel to Johannesburg, South Africa, to participate in a Global African Leadership program at the African Leadership Academy. His primary objectives were to learn about leadership and to study South African culture and society. The following interview highlights his experiences and takeaways from his trip:
What inspired you to pursue this project?
I'm interested in foreign affairs, and one of the topics I read a lot about is Africa. Something interesting about Africa is that approximately 50% of the population is 18 or below, so they have immense economic, population, and infrastructural growth potential. Right now, they are also a key player [in international politics] where the US, Russia, and China are all buying for better ties with Africa… they're an up-and-coming continent, so I wanted to visit and learn more.
What key differences did you notice between the school you visited and St. Mark’s?
The program I attended was a summer camp hosted by a school in South Africa. When I went, they were having their summer vacation. They both have beautiful campuses… one thing I noticed was the surrounding area. The landscape of Johannesburg is a lot different than Southborough. Another difference was that I was the only white guy there. Other students in my class were from different parts of Africa, such as Ethiopia and Kenya, but I was the only one from the U.S. That was definitely different from St. Mark’s, but it didn’t really feel much different… was more of just an [observation]. However, one similarity was that welcoming feeling… everyone was very welcoming and open to talking.
What were your biggest takeaways from the trip?
My biggest takeaway was to be more globally conscious. Being able to experience the Walk of Life [in Africa] and participate in [the programs] was really eye-opening. Especially now, with the economic issues that are going on in South Africa and the rest of Africa, I'm concerned about those people that I’ve become very good friends with, so that definitely made me a lot more conscious of the issues that initially seemed distant from me. I had never been to Africa before, and I didn't know what to expect. I guess it wasn't all that I thought it was going to be. I think that students and people in general are often not concerned for other people. Still, I think there are individuals out there who could very well be your friends, and the only reason is not that you haven't got out and met them. In my case, I never knew those people would be really close to me, so try to empathize and stay informed. Also, investing in Africa is really important, especially in the coming years.
What was the most memorable thing that happened to you during the trip? Who was your best friend while you were there?
The most memorable thing was getting to know the people. I was at the camp for a really long time… two and a half weeks. I lived with them pretty much. We had all three meals together. We did everything together, so I think the best part about [the trip] was just developing those relationships. In general, it was my first time in Africa, and I didn’t know what to expect at first, so it was very eye-opening. My best friend was this guy named Wonga. He was actually from South Africa, and he was the funniest guy. He was the guy to come on the first day, and we [immediately] got along well together. We would take trips between classes on off days, and we would always plan the trip together. We still send each other Instagram messages. There were so many different guys like Mohamad and Kai… everybody there was awesome in their own way.
Now that you are back at St. Mark’s and about to head off to college, what are your plans for getting involved in that again?
On my final day, when I was talking to one of the administrators, we were having discussions about African economies and how even though they have this young population with all this growth potential, it gets slowed down. And the reality is that they can't compete with the Western countries. The primary reason for this, according to a local adult in South Africa, was corruption. There are no audits, no systems, and no check balances for a lot of governments that misuse funds and welfare stimuli. I think one of the main issues Africa is facing is an administrative issue, and I kind of see that every day, especially with current events going on in Sudan and now places like Chad.
Would this project and experience have been possible without the grant?
Definitely not. So much was gratefully covered under the grant, such as the airfare cost, which was especially expensive at that time of year. Also, I needed money just to attend the camp, so the grant helped me so much just getting there and being able to participate. I totally owe that to the grant.
What did you learn about leadership? Can the leadership principles also be applied to leaders at St. Mark’s?
The main thing we talked about was different human rights in the UN. We talked a lot about Nelson Mandela, who, as you know, is a very prominent figure in South African politics, especially during apartheid, which ended quite recently. We talked about how to help people and the economics of aiding people, the core roots of issues in Africa. They are not as simple to solve, so we need to be innovative to find the solutions. Something students at St. Mark’s can apply to their own leadership is understanding group needs and learning to work within the system to achieve those needs. It would also be a valuable learning experience for students at St. Mark’s to compare the leadership styles of Nelson Mandela to, for instance, Martin Luther King Jr. to recognize the various styles of leadership.