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: Nadine Ali
Degree(s): B.A. in International Studies and Political Science
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Expected to graduate: Spring 2028
What was your highlight from the trip?
For me, the highlight from this trip was the Alumni and Friends Reception. The range of careers that I saw Jackson School alumni representing made me excited for my future in the Jackson School. It was refreshing to see that there was no limit to what this major could become, and it opened my eyes to different paths that are possible.
What were the most important lessons you learned during your time in Washington D.C.?
The work that the panelists at the State Department described made me very interested in foreign service careers. I was eager to jump into this career, but I was reminded to not plan my life around this path, because life is full of unexpected turns. Government work, especially foreign service, may require you to make sacrifices, some that might not be worth it for you. I learned that I should always be honest with myself with the path that I am going on, and to not mourn that path you’re not taking. Even if I don’t end up working in this field, this lesson has taught me that there is no right or wrong way to do what I love.
How do you think these lessons will help you in your future career?
These lessons can shield me from the worries that come from not knowing what exactly I want to do in the future, and the worries that a career that looks appealing, may end up not being worth the sacrifices I’d have to make. To remind myself that there is no wrong path, and no path worth mourning over, I will be able to be satisfied with any path I end up taking.
Anything else you’d like to mention?
To me, my fellow classmates made this trip feel like I wasn’t giving up my spring break at all!
