My First Christmas Newsletter

Happy New Year from Washington, DC!

To My Friends,

I hope this letter finds you well and happy after the holiday season. I sent out some letters in the mail to those who are not as technologically savvy and decided it would be easier to send you emails. Ironically it took me a little longer to send out emails though it takes less time. Anyway, it seemed a good time to send a holiday greeting to those whom I care about. You have loved and supported me in my life and I want to share with you where your influence has led me. So here is my Christmas/barely New Year’s/almost Valentine’s Day newsletter from Washington.

The most influential event in my life this last year started back in February when I was accepted to BYU’s Washington Seminar program. The program consists of an internship in a DC office as well as classes with a BYU professor. I chose to intern at the Institute of International Education (or IIE, because DC is obsessed with acronyms). I flew out on August 30, and a few days later began my incredible, yet unpaid, internship in DC.

From September to December I worked at IIE on the International Visitor Leadership Program. Under the delegation of the State Department, we prepared three-week exchange programs for professional visitors from other countries. The visitors come to Washington, and then travel to several other cities in the U.S. to obtain a broad and deeper understanding of America as well as a larger working network for their field. The visitors are professionals ranging in fields anywhere from HIV/AIDS prevention to foreign policy and government. I have met some incredible people from all over the world.

I would like to share with you two lessons I learned from my internship. First, diplomacy is not limited to the State Department. IIE works closely with a large organization of volunteers from around the country. The volunteers are ordinary citizens who help facilitate our programs for the visitors. They are instrumental to the success of the programs. Secondly, I learned that I might like too many different subjects. My interests are strongest in international affairs, because I seem to be obsessed with foreigners. However, I love the arts. I cannot get enough of art, music, theater and dancing. I have spent many hours and probably too much money from a student budget at the Kennedy Center. My ideal job would yield diplomacy through cultural exchanges. And if I could throw in politics and business and sports, I might be content with my work.

My internship was my last semester as a BYU student. I am finally finished! I postponed my graduation so that I could participate in the Washington Seminar program. I will go back to Provo in April for commencement, but since I was hired on where I interned, I plan on staying out here in the DC area for at least the next year or two before moving on to graduate school. I hope my American Studies major and French minor will prove useful in whatever career I choose, though I am first planning on getting a master’s degree to strengthen my educational background.

I have always imagined that my career interests would take me all over the world. I have not been all over yet, but it is my goal. These yearnings to travel seem to take me further and further from my family and friends. I did not imagine how heartsick this could make me. Though I may not see you often, I am ever grateful for the lasting impression you have had on me. Have a wonderful New Year!

Love, Becky