This is part of a collection of reflection essays by graduating 2024 student leaders. View the rest here.
By Judy Huynh
As a first-generation international student from Toronto, Canada, I arrived at Wagner with a mix of self-doubt and determination, my modest undergraduate GPA clashing with my entrepreneurial spirit. Looking back now, graduate school served as a launchpad for demonstrating my resilience. The most profound lessons I learned lay hidden beneath the surface of academic syllabi and professional internships. It was the intangible experiences, leadership opportunities, and bold ideas that truly shaped my path.
When I became the Chair of the Urban Planning Student Association, I discovered that leadership is not just about guiding others—it is about inspiring and being inspired by a team of talented individuals. These peers became my lifelong friends and future collaborators in the interdisciplinary world of urban planning. Whether it’s housing, transportation, or environmental planning, Wagner taught me that the world is indeed your oyster, and your voice can and should echo through the halls of power.
Wagner took me far beyond Washington Square Park, too. Taking the Urban Health Equity course in London, through the School of Global Public Health, broadened my understanding of urban planning’s impact on health outcomes. Our role is not only to enhance quality of life, but also to create environments that promote well-being, bridge inequities, and foster community cohesion. Back on this side of the Atlantic, I collaborated with a team from across NYU, including students from Wagner, CUSP, Schack, and SPS, on a project to revitalize a coastal area in North Charleston, South Carolina for the Urban Land Institute’s Hines competition. My specialty, urban design, is not necessarily a core element of Wagner’s standard curriculum, but the school allowed me the flexibility to find design classes and opportunities to enter design competitions to showcase my creativity.
Through these projects, I felt encouraged to think outside the box, to find unexpected synergies, and to bring my lived experiences into my academic pursuits. With my peers by my side, I came to understand that there are no bad ideas, only those awaiting the right collective to bring them to fruition.
Once I graduate, I will carry with me not just a degree but a rich array of experiences that have shaped my perspective on urban planning and life itself. The lessons learned and connections forged at grad school will continue to inspire and guide me in creating a better, healthier, and more equitable society. This has been a pivotal experience, and as I stand on the precipice of the future, it fills me with satisfaction to have honored my family and to have carved a path that others may follow.