JSIS STUDENT SERVICES - Jackson School of International ...

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STUDENT SERVICES BULLETIN
JSIS Alumni Corner
As a recently graduated alumni, What is your advice for graduating seniors?
Bronwen Raymer, 2011 BA International Studies (Environment)
"In the midst of projects, papers, finals, work and resisting the urge to yell at your roommate when
she leaves her dirty dishes in the sink for weeks again, life after graduation might seem difficult to
imagine. Particularly when transitioning out of the regimented environment of syllabi and regular
evaluations from our instructors or peers, life after college seems frighteningly nebulous in comparison.
If you’re afraid or unsure of what you’d like to do when you graduate, it might be comforting to
know that nearly everyone shares your feelings at some point. Very few of us have a clear idea of
exactly where we’re going in life, and even those of us who think we do will face challenges that
force us to re-evaluate our priorities and goals. From my own limited experience, it seems that one of
the most challenging aspects of achieving any goal is first completing the hard and necessary work
of self-introspection to even first identify what it is we really want. My best advice to graduating seniors trying to identify a
career or life aspiration is to simply take the time necessary to determine what one would really find fulfilling. Some good
ways to identify and accumulate the resources necessary to achieve life and career goals is to gather as much information
and input as possible. You can do this by completing internships in a variety of positions, talking to older adults and peers
about your plans and arranging for informational interviews. Remember, discovering your life’s work is a difficult process, but
will be fundamental to your future happiness."
Kevin Shimota, 2011 BA International Studies (China)
“One thing I think graduating JSIS seniors should know about is networking; how to network and why
to network. As researchers and analysts, we Jackson School students tend to focus more on content
and material and less on people. Networking not only gives you professional opportunities, but also
helps you identify what vocation you are interested in. Choosing a profession can be just as difficult
as or even more difficult than choosing your major, and I think we all remember how difficult that
was. I always wanted to be an Ambassador so that I could live overseas and interact with the locals,
but upon meeting government officials and Foreign Service Officers, I found that the private industry
can give you exciting, diverse opportunities to interact with foreign nationals on a more intimate level.
Personally, I already have extensive experience studying abroad, which I encourage Jackson students
to do, but it is essential to complement cultural experience with professional experience through networking and even
participating in internships.”
Keep Connected with other
members of the JSIS Alum Husky
Pack
Keep connected to the Jackson School community! Join these official pages for updates on news and events:
Official JSIS Page on Facebook:
Or search “University of Washington Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies”
Official JSIS Twitter Feed: @UWJSIS
Official JSIS Group on LinkedIn:
Or search “University of Washington Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies”