How scholarships can help find purposeful careers

The Rhodes Scholarship – a fully funded postgraduate award – provides exceptional people from all over the world the opportunity to study at the University of Oxford.

Gloria Charite, from Rwanda, and Trisha Prabhu, from the United States, are among the Rhodes Scholars pursuing a career that enables them to make a positive difference.

Gloria, the first female Rhodes Scholar from Rwanda, is completing her MSc by research in experimental psychology at the University of Oxford. 

Trisha is the inventor, founder and CEO of ReThink, an award-winning technology platform that detects and stops cyberbullying before it happens. 

Trisha recently completed two postgraduate degrees at Oxford: an MSc in the social science of the internet and a master’s in public policy. She is now set to return to her home in Chicago to continue her work with ReThink. 

As they think ahead to life after Oxford, Gloria and Trisha share their career ambitions, how they hope to make a positive difference in the world, and how their experience as a Rhodes Scholar helped them realise this. 

Could you start by sharing why you decided to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship? What drew you to the programme?

Gloria Charite: I’m passionate about my research, especially when it comes to unravelling the mysteries of the brain. But equally important is the opportunity to participate in solving some of the world’s pressing issues, like equal access to quality education. I wanted to join a programme that would allow me to do both, and there was no better choice than the Rhodes Scholarship. When I saw what other scholars were doing to address these issues, I knew this was a community I wanted to be a part of.   

Trisha Prabhu: I wanted the opportunity to study at a world-class university and to be a part of a community of people who are trying to tackle emerging issues in new ways, many of which previous generations haven’t considered. The scholarship’s focus on “unselfishness and fellowship” was also very important to me; Rhodes Scholars have such energy and vision, but they also care deeply about the world. 

What are your career aspirations and plans after you graduate?

Gloria: Long term, I am really interested in pursuing postdoctoral studies and gaining more research experience. My main aspiration and life goal is to build and strengthen research infrastructures in developing nations. I was saddened to discover that most psychological research comes from a very small, unrepresentative sample of the human population; researchers and research participants mostly come from highly educated, rich, industrialised countries. If the purpose of psychology is to understand the “human” experience, we need to recognise that humanity extends beyond the Global North. 

Trisha: Now that I’ve finished my degrees at Oxford, I plan to continue my work leading ReThink, which is focused on redefining internet culture, tackling cyberbullying, and making the digital world affirming and inclusive. I hope to use what I learnt during my time in Oxford to expand ReThink internationally and to tackle emerging forms of cyberbullying, such as deepfakes and AI-generated content. 

How do you hope to create a positive impact on society and your community through your work – both now and in the future?

Gloria: It does not take a rocket scientist, or a brain scientist for that matter, to see that although talent is equally distributed, opportunities are not. I hope that through my work, I can contribute to levelling the playing field to help more people access life-changing opportunities, regardless of their background or where they’re from. To this end, I am a Rhodes Outreach Ambassador for East Africa. 

Trisha: Internet use exploded during the Covid-19 pandemic as our lives increasingly moved online. While this brought many benefits, the rise in internet usage means cyberbullying has become a global pandemic of its own. While ReThink is a technology platform, it is also a global movement. I want to use my role to focus on destigmatising cyberbullying, making people safe online, and creating an inclusive digital world for everyone – especially young people. 

What does a ‘purposeful’ career mean to you?

Gloria: A career that allows an individual to pursue work that they enjoy while also having a meaningful impact on society. For me, this involves conducting research that not only pushes the boundaries of what we know about the brain but also ensures that the benefits of this research are accessible to everyone. Ultimately, a purposeful career is one that aligns my professional pursuits with my values and aspirations to create a more inclusive and equitable world.

Trisha: To me, it’s a career that doesn’t feel like work. Instead, it feels like a privilege. That doesn’t mean it will always be fun and there won’t be challenges along the way, but I view my work as a calling because I care so deeply about it. 

How has the Rhodes Scholarship shaped your aspirations and desire to pursue a purpose-driven career? 

Gloria: The Rhodes Scholarship provided financial support which has made it possible for me to pursue my research goals and attend advanced training and conferences. I have also benefited from my interactions with the Rhodes Scholar community. They have helped me to shape my thoughts on the kinds of research that can be pursued and how we can expand research in developing countries. 

Trisha: Being in a community where everyone is committed to making a positive difference is inspiring and a privilege to be a part of. The Rhodes Scholar community has opened my eyes to the many different ways to make a positive difference in the world because people approach problems from a diverse range of perspectives and experiences.