Summer 2022 Recap:
This summer I spent four weeks studying abroad in Rwanda with the Sociology Department’s program, Genocide and Its Aftermath in Rwanda. Out of all my experiences at Ohio State, I am most grateful for the opportunity to study what I am passionate about abroad. Learning about the 1994 genocide and its aftermath from a sociological lens gave me a new perspective I will carry throughout my studies. Being able to learn about the Rwandan genocide and Rwandan culture in the country from Rwandans was an enriching academic experience that I am so grateful for. It was humbling to meet with individuals who endured the genocide and had different roles — including survivors, rescuers, and people who committed crimes of genocide. I am very grateful that so many Rwandans were willing to speak with us and share their experiences.
Almost every day, we traveled to different parts of Rwanda and a few times visited genocide memorials. The memorials brought many emotions that I grappled with but visiting them was an important part of understanding the genocide and paying respect to the almost 1 million people who lost their lives in the span of 100 days. Since the genocide was only 28 years ago, it’s important that we learn about what happened in Rwanda and understand the role colonialism and Western powers played in sowing the seeds that led to the genocide. By learning from the past, I genuinely believe we can imagine and create a better, more peaceful future.
In addition to studying the events of the genocide, we also learned about the country’s transitional justice efforts to rebuild the country in the aftermath and, more broadly, about the Rwandan culture. We visited the government agency responsible for reconciliation efforts and various peacebuilding non-governmental organizations. These excursions fit perfectly with my aspirations to eventually do grassroots peacebuilding work in communities recovering from conflicts. It was amazing to hear what different organizations are doing to support Rwandans in healing, reconciling, and moving forward. This opportunity gave me many networking connections and affirmed my passion for the future work I want to do!
Rwanda is the most beautiful country I have ever visited! Its natural beauty took my breath away, and the culture of community in the country was infectious. Rwanda has many incredible biomes, from rainforest to savanna, in a space the size of Maryland. This study abroad allowed me to trek in the volcanoes to see endangered mountain gorillas one day and then the next go on a safari to see elephants, giraffes, and zebras. From exploring the capital city of Kigali to the countryside, the land of 1000 hills has my heart. There is no doubt in my mind that I will return to Rwanda in the future and carry a new sociological perspective of Rwanda and genocide into my future studies and work.
Summer 2021 Recap:
This summer I lived in Washington, D.C., and worked as a Policy Associate for Jubilee USA Network. Jubilee USA is an interfaith, non-profit alliance of religious, development, and advocacy organizations. I worked with the headquarters’ leadership and their network of 75 U.S. institutions and over 750 faith groups in the United States and around the globe. In my role as a Policy Analyst, I tracked policy issues, implemented digital campaigns, and attended meeting with our coalition partner AFRODAD.
A highlight of my internship was working with AFRODAD, a pan-African organization working to secure solutions to Africa’s debt and development challenges, to create a policy campaign calling for the IMF to equitably issue Special Drawing Rights and address debt inequities facing the global south. This project culminated in an interfaith rally on the National Mall in front of the U.S. calling for global debt equity in the IMF.
Second Year Recap, 2020 – 2021:
I spent this past year in my hometown due to COVID-19.
Academics: During my first semester I took a part-time course load, due to rapid schedule changes caused by COVID-19. I took the course Intervening for Peace: Peacekeeping and Collective Security where I completed a case study on the conflict in Aceh, Indonesia. This class and research project developed my interest in focusing my future studies on peacebuilding and conflict recovery.
I returned to a full-time course load for the second semester, while remaining fully online. I took the class History of the Middle East Since 1914, which allowed me to add and complete a History minor.
Internship: I continued my internship with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs throughout the year and was promoted to Head of the Newsletter Department. I have gained insight into working for a government agency and leading a diverse team of interns to develop nationally viewed newsletters.
Eminence: During my first semester I was a TA for the first-year Eminence seminar. I also continued to work hard on our class service project, Cultivate Columbus. We have grown to become a successful student organization with one completed project through our partnership with Columbus City Schools. We currently have four projects with community gardens across Columbus.
Summer 2020 Recap
With the cancelation of my much-anticipated internship abroad and the continuation of this pandemic, my summer plans were completely altered. I am thankful to be in a stable situation where I feel safe and healthy at home and this summer and as long as the pandemic continues I have stayed home and done my part to ensure the health of my family and others in my community.
Academics: I decided to get ahead with my studies and took 9 credits throughout the summer. One class was a GE and another was a pre-requisite economics class for my Public Affairs major.
Research: Another class I took this summer involved research. This class was a Research Collaborative on African Scientists and HIV/AIDS with Dr. McDow in the History Department. I am planning to do research in the future and this collaborative was a great introduction to social science research. With the support of Dr. McDow and my classmates, I researched the scientist Souleymane Mboup’s work in the 1980s and ’90s, his discovery of HIV-2, and the impact Senegalese public policy had on Mboup’s HIV research. This class culminated in a final research portfolio and paper that strengthened my professional and analytical writing skills. This paper can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/osuresearch2020. While compiling research I combed through news articles and government reports and strengthened my practical French language skills by examining and extrapolating details from French documents. This class ignited my excitement towards research and has given me a basis of skills for the future.
Internship: In addition to continuing my academics I started an internship with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a Writing and Editing Intern with the Digital Media Engagement team. As part of my responsibilities, I research and write or edit blog posts about the accomplishments and service of U.S. Veterans, as well as resources available to Veterans. Getting to work in a Federal Agency has been valuable and has given me insight into what a potential career in a government agency could look like.
First Year Recap, 2019 – 2020:
My first year flew by and though it ended abruptly, I am proud of the work I have done and the prospects for my future.
Academics: I began the year in the Arts and Sciences College, with Public Affairs as my second major. Through a deeper exploration of my interests and priorities, I found a home in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs and changed my primary major to Public Management, Leadership, and Policy. World Politics is now my second major and I remain impassioned by international relations as a focus. These two majors will allow me to explore my interest in international affairs and political science theory while gaining skills that prepare me for a potential career working for or with the government. I have also continued to enjoy studying the French language and culture as I work towards my minor.
IGNITE: During Spring semester 2020, I became the Vice President of OSU’s chapter of IGNITE: Women in Politics, which is an organization that promotes and engages womxn who have a desire to work in the political and social justice spaces. I have found a community of likeminded individuals who are committed to changing the world, working in politics, and are engaged in social activism.
Eminence: I have really dug into Eminence programming this year. The Eminence cohort was the first group of people I really got to know on campus and they are still some of my closest friends. I have been working with my year’s cohort on developing a service project to benefit a community in Columbus and I am excited about what is to come. I see myself taking a large role in this service project. With COVID and the year being cut short, our group has had to make adjustments and has found that the idea generation process is taking longer than expected. I am confident that the project will take the form of something innovative and impactful this summer.
Future Plans & COVID-19: This summer I had looked forward to participating in The Canadian Parliament Internship through the Department of Political Science and the Office of International Affairs. I had planned to travel to Ottowa, Canada for the first part of the summer and intern for MP Hedy Fry as one of her small number of staff members. This experience would have allowed me to attend Parliament, work on policy and policy formation, and learn about the workings of a foreign government. Unfortunately, this internship was canceled due to COVID-19. I am disappointed but know it is necessary to keep people safe and healthy. I look forward to reapplying to the program next year if conditions allow for it. I am currently looking for a virtual internship and plan to take some classes this summer.