10 Years of Cardinal Quarter: Jennifer Soh, ’23, MS ’24
Jennifer Soh, ’23, MS ’24; Analyst at Ikaso Consulting
Cardinal Quarter Placements: SIRUM (2020); Organic Soup Kitchen (2023)
What impact did your Cardinal Quarter experience have on you?
The opportunity to pursue a Cardinal Quarter was life-changing, to say the least. I did not take it for granted that a Cardinal Quarter is an incredible, unique experience that is offered to Stanford students. If I had never experienced a Cardinal Quarter, I would have had a very different view on what pursuing a career in the public sector could look like and likely would not have known to pursue the job that I have today. Beyond my internship experiences with Cardinal Quarter, I am so grateful for all of the support that I received along the way as a Cardinal Quarter student. I met so many people who I now look up to and am grateful to call mentors of mine. Cardinal Quarter and the Haas Center became such a huge support system and family, even in my post-grad life.
How did your Cardinal Quarter influence your academic, career, or life choices?
I was on an academic trajectory that was very rigid and structured, with little room for exploration throughout my undergraduate career. Experiencing two Cardinal Quarters, one at the beginning of my Stanford journey and one at the end, was really the only time for me to explore other fields and interests that I knew I was passionate about but never felt that I had the time to pursue. The opportunity to be funded through a Cardinal Quarter to pursue these interests changed my life. I learned more about myself and my own interests than I could have learned in a classroom and am now on a career trajectory that I never envisioned myself taking but am beyond grateful that I did.
What is one memory or lesson from your Cardinal Quarter that has stayed with you?
There was one woman I met through the Organic Soup Kitchen who I had an extended conversation with. As someone who was always interested in the medical career, I had always assumed that the best way to help those with life-threatening diagnoses was to become a doctor. In talking to her, however, I realized that health and healing reaches so much farther than the four walls of a hospital. The experience of working to ensure that people have access to nutritious food while they are receiving cancer treatment is something that drives me to this day, as I now work with state governments on public service projects that work towards supporting individuals with the care and assistance they need.
What advice would you give to a student considering a Cardinal Quarter?
Do it! Even if you see your peers taking summer internships that look different, trust your gut and follow your passions with a Cardinal Quarter. It is a once in a lifetime experience, and you won't regret it!
What does public service mean to you today?
Public service means working towards something that is bigger than yourself, putting the needs of others first to work towards a greater good.
