Matthew LaskowskiNorthwestern University
Hong Kong Hello! My name is Matthew Laskowski, and I am a sophomore majoring in Industrial Engineering and minoring in Chinese Language at Northwestern University. I was mainly raised and educated in Hong Kong but also spent time studying in Chicago, Illinois and Madison, Wisconsin. The Hong Kong democratic election protests have piqued my interests in how other countries such as Taiwan fit into the East Asian puzzle. My favorite after class activity is rugby and I hope to continue playing wherever I may one day live.
There are few people who would think to create the first ever TASC. Luckily, I was one of the first twenty American delegates fortunate enough to experience this conference. Known as the ‘cynic’ of my roundtable debates, I forged personal, academic, and professional alliances that have given me a perspective on things I never would have seen. My Taiwanese counterparts complemented my strengths and aided me in weakness. The respect I acquired meeting not only peoples from around the United States and Taiwan, but also from around the world was only topped by the inspiration they radiate. At the end of the first TASC I only had one thing on my mind: “I’m coming back for more.” My goal as an Executive Committee member is to recreate the stimulating environment I was thrust into. Would you like to learn about Taiwan’s precarious geopolitical and economic position and how it relates to China-US relations? How about the Sunflower revolution and how it relates to the current Umbrella protests? I’ll see you this summer! |