We’ve been fortunate to have so many accomplished and interesting people walk through our doors. Every month, Ƶ highlights one of our program alumni to let the community know what they’ve been up to. This month, we caught up with 2012 CDB alumni, Isaiah Schrader.
I’m Isaiah Schrader, a 2012 Caroline D. Bradley Scholar from Scarborough, New York. After receiving the scholarship in 8th grade, I attended the Trinity School, a day school on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where I discovered my passion for the culture, history, and languages of East Asia.
In 2017, I matriculated at Yale College. Although I took classes in a wide variety of subjects — from game theory to poetry, and political theory to economics — I ended up pursuing a double major in Philosophy and East Asian Languages and Literature. I focused mostly on the philosophy of early modern Europe and late imperial China: my senior thesis reexamined the thought of the 16th century Chinese philosopher Wang Yangming.
Like many of my peers in the humanities, I had some trouble figuring out what to do next — our paths are often far from linear. Ultimately, after graduating in 2021, I decided to continue pursuing my academic interest in China, and entered a two year Masters program at Harvard, where I study the intellectual history of Song and Ming Dynasty China. My hope is to stay for a PhD after graduating in 2023.
I am so grateful for the generosity of the Ƶ community and the Bradley Scholarship in allowing me to receive a top-notch education, and I often reflect on the ways in which their support has had a profound impact on my life. Thanks so much to Bonnie, Betsy, Mallory, and the rest of the team for everything they do.