Fellow Feature: Henry Ly
On his passion for social justice and equity, how he found the right major, and his desire to share the important narratives
Henry Ly is a current Fung Fellow pursuing a civil and environmental engineering major and a public policy minor. We were recently able to talk with him about his journey to the Fung Fellowship, and how he found a unique match for his interests in the program’s dedication to interdisciplinary innovation and social impact.
On what you should know about him
“I’m a second-generation Cambodian-American born in Salt Lake City, UT and raised in San Diego, CA. I have two older sisters and one younger sibling, who have all been there for me for as long as I can remember; as of later years, it’s really felt like us, together against the world. I’m a fairly-empathic person, so I think a lot and feel even more. When the world gets overwhelming, I throw on my running shoes and go for a run. If someone would like a glimpse into my mind, they might find it useful to explore my (creative) writing.
On the Fung Fellowship
I was inspired to become a Fellow because of the program’s promise to allow its participants the opportunity to work at the intersection between technology/innovation and social impact. In my first 1.5 years as an undergraduate at Cal, I was in a deep process of evaluating, re-evaluating and weighing my career trajectory. I was searching for something that was at the intersection of my many interests — two major ones being civil engineering and social justice. I previously believed that my career interests were mutually exclusive and that I had to choose one over the other, but I have since learned otherwise. I was excited to find the Fung Fellowship’s dedication to innovation for social impact and focus on human-centered design.
“I was excited to find the Fung Fellowship’s dedication to innovation for social impact and focus on human-centered design.”
On why he studies what he studies
I actually entered Cal as engineering-undeclared and at the time was somewhat undecided about which field in engineering I wanted to enter. I had already previously narrowed my options to engineering because, coming from a creative-and-performing-arts high school, I wanted a career that allowed me both an outlet for creativity and something with tangible, real-world impact. My decision-making process was roughly as follows: (after Chem 1A) chemistry was definitely not for me and therefore I could not do energy engineering or bioengineering, mechanical engineering was somewhat intimidating and didn’t pique my interest, and I really loved learning about sustainability, urbanization and the built and natural environment. So of course, the obvious choice was civil and environmental engineering.
However, during this time while I was deciding what my area of focus would be within engineering, I was also debating whether to switch out of engineering completely (reference my competing interests). I’m so glad that I didn’t, but I was contemplating a career in politics/policy/government too (and am actually still looking to pursue later). This ultimately resulted in me declaring a public policy minor through the Goldman School of Public Policy.
On what binds his passions together
I have many passions and have often found myself struggling to explore all of them. However, I think that one of my core passions that influences many of my decisions and is reflected in just about all of the things that I do, is achieving social justice and equity and all related subject areas (including but not limited to racial justice, economic justice, environmental justice, gender and LGBTQ+ issues). While the identities that one holds don’t necessarily determine passion for justice and equity, my experience as a low-income, queer, Southeast Asian person in the U.S. has contributed to my worldview and fueled my commitment to such notions.
“I think that one of my core passions that influences many of my decisions and is reflected in just about all of the things that I do, is achieving social justice and equity and all related subject areas.”
And on one passion in particular
I’m also a NUMTOT and would love to connect with other NUMTOTs! (Editor’s note: NUMTOT refers to New Urbanist Memes for Transit-Oriented Teens, a reference to Facebook group focused on public transit, urban development and civil issues.)
On what he’s currently working on
Personally, I’m currently working on continuing creating and compiling my works as a writer and poet. I’ve also recently started an online personal blog that I’m utilizing as a tool to share my thoughts and experiences with the world. In the Spring 2020 semester, I’m excited to continue to learn about and with more of my fellow fellows; I’ve already made some really great friends through the fellowship who have expanded my world-view! I’m also looking forward to lots of programs for youth mentorship taking place this semester through the API Recruitment & Retention Center, or REACH!, which I help lead. Something else that I’m really excited about is running another half-marathon on February 2, 2020 and starting training for my first full marathon!
On his hope for a better world
I hope that I can make the world more equitable, accessible and loving. My mother and my experiences have inspired this. At 16, I lost my mom to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); I watched in the years prior as her body gave out on her. The most frustrating thing wasn’t the disease itself, but rather knowing how hard she worked in every minute of all her years to build a life for herself and me and my siblings. I understand the struggle of refugees and immigrants, not through myself, but through her. I know what living in a one-bedroom apartment with six people is like because that was my life for several years. I also understand what power knowledge, information and access to both can give one.
Today’s politics erase such narratives. I hope that through my life’s work, I can uplift them, tear down barriers and systems of power, privilege and oppression, and help others listen to and love one another.”
“I hope that through my life’s work, I can…tear down barriers and systems of power, privilege and oppression, and help others listen to and love one another.”
Connect with Henry // As told to Lauren Leung.
Fellow Features is a series dedicated to showcasing the Fung Fellowship community and learning more about their lives and their stories. If you’re interested in being featured, email funginstitute@berkeley.edu!
Learn more about the Fung Fellowship at fungfellows.berkeley.edu.
