Each year, the Jackson School takes University of Washington undergrads beyond the classroom and into the heart of U.S. foreign policymaking. For the second annual Washington D.C. spring break trip, 25 students traveled to the nation’s capital from March 22 – March 28 with faculty members Stephen Meyers and Jessica Beyer for a week of immersive meetings spanning the Pentagon, Department of State, the European Union Delegation, the Embassy of Finland; international organizations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the World Bank; and events like a panel with early career Jackson School alum. We sat down with participants to hear about their experience networking with UW alumni, exploring career pathways, and seeing international relations in action.
Preferred name: Daisy Lui
Degree(s): B.A. in International Studies and Communication
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Expected to graduate: Spring 2026
What was your highlight from the trip?
My highlight was exploring the different fields one can work in, I had never heard of the many of the paths people could work in. I had no idea of the different jobs until now. I really enjoyed going inside the Pentagon.
What were the most important lessons you learned during your time in Washington D.C.?
My most important lesson during my time in Washington D.C was to take my time to discover what I want. I don’t have to be stuck on one path, most times you try all these things. And when you try these different interests and things you never know that it may be the path for you. I met so many people who shared not knowing what they were really passionate about.
How do you think these lessons will help you in your future career?
In my future career these lessons provided me with an insight on what passion looks like and that you have to work you way up to the path you want. People didn’t jump into the job they wanted right away and met people that would network and help them.
