From Beijing, China, Haotian Zhang is currently a graduate student at School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, concentrating on International Finance and Economic Policy. Haotian did his undergraduate program at Peking University studying History, Economics and Spanish, after which he moved to Xinjiang, China as a gap-year volunteer. Being an amateur travel writer, he has backpacked to around 80 countries and regions since college, witnessing civil wars, crises, and poverty. As one of cohort of the CISS Youth, Haotian’s interests cover financial market, economic development, and Latin America.