When Jasmine Zhao graduates from McGill University this spring with a double major in International Development Studies and Psychology, she won’t have a lot of time to catch her breath. In August, she’ll be off to Tsinghua University in Beijing as one of 150 Schwarzman Scholars from around the world.
The scholarship offers a one-year, fully funded Master’s degree program in Global Affairs to students who have demonstrated leadership potential and a commitment to global dialogue.
For Zhao, the recognition is not an endpoint but a continuation of a journey that began with a discovery that forever changed how she saw the world.
A childhood shaped by contrast
Growing up in Dalian, China, attending an international school, Zhao discovered families living in shipping containers just minutes from her home. They had no heating, no electricity; children studied on the floor in freezing temperatures. The contrast with her own access to education and opportunity unsettled her.
“I remember thinking, how did I not know this existed?” Zhao said. “It was five minutes away from my home, and yet no one ever talked about it.”
Her parents had always emphasized kindness over conventional success, teaching her that helping others mattered more than grades or job titles.
“They always told me that if you’re able to help someone, you should,” Zhao said. “Even if you can’t fix everything, you have a responsibility to try.”
Those values were reinforced by a childhood spent moving between China and Los Angeles. Frequent relocations forced her to adapt to new schools, cultures and social norms.
“You can live comfortably and still feel like you don’t belong,” she said. “I experienced that feeling of being in between, and it made me much more sensitive to people who are trying to integrate.”
That sensitivity shaped her empathy for refugees and migrants navigating unfamiliar societies.
Building bridges at McGill
At McGill, Zhao combined International Development Studies with Psychology to understand both global systems and individual behaviour.
“International development teaches you how the world works,” she said. “Psychology teaches you how people work.”
One of her most formative influences was Kazue Takamura, a Senior Faculty Lecturer at McGill’s Institute for the Study of International Development. Through class discussions and office hours, Takamura encouraged Zhao to connect research with action.
Through Takamura, Zhao became involved in the Refugee Parliament Conference, initially a one-off class project where refugees could speak directly to policymakers.
“I didn’t want it to be a one-time conference,” she said. “I wanted it to be a platform that refugees could rely on.”
She took over in her first year, formalized it as an organization, and under her leadership, the conference has been held two more times. Zhao partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Montreal Refugee Centre to secure support, while mentoring younger students to ensure its continuity after her graduation.
The conference centres refugee and migrant voices, highlighting barriers to integration, including language barriers, navigating government systems and social inclusion.
‘Once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity
Zhao describes her time at McGill as transformative, both academically and personally.
“My experience here has been fascinating, truly once-in-a-lifetime,” she said. “I genuinely recommend it to anyone.”
Zhao points to McGill’s diversity as central to her experience. As a student interested in global affairs, she built friendships across cultures and borders.
“The student community is incredibly diverse,” she said. “I’ve made friends from at least 15 to 20 different countries.”
She credits professors for their accessibility and mentorship, noting that learning extended well beyond the classroom.
“I learned so much not only in class, but also through office hours and deeper conversations about academic topics and career goals,” she said.
Looking ahead
As she prepares to leave Montreal, Zhao sees the Schwarzman Scholarship as a continuation of that growth and a chance to deepen her commitment to service.
“My focus has always been on charity and non-governmental work, and that will remain central during my time as a Schwarzman Scholar and beyond,” she said. “I hope people see not only China’s impressive development, but also its complexity and diversity, as it continues to navigate challenges common to all societies.”
“China has made significant progress in addressing these issues, but I believe international collaboration can help accelerate positive change. Every country faces its own challenges, and by learning from one another, we can create better solutions together,” Zhao said.