As undergraduate and graduate students in the Class of 2019 prepare for the Elliott School Graduation Celebration on May 17th at the Smith Center, we spoke with some soon-to-be graduates about what advice they would give to incoming students of the future
Chi Tran, BA ’19, International Affairs
– On Courage
My first year at the Elliott School was a year of numerous failures. I had trouble adjusting to the new language, new ways of learning and most importantly, a whole new culture. I struggled in half of my classes, failed to get accepted at any internship around DC for the first two years in college and lost my confidence.
I knew I could not be afraid to keep trying. I knew I could not walk this journey alone without accepting the help from my family, professors and friends. I came here in search of a “dream,” but I am leaving here with something much more real and lasting, which is “courage.” All we can do is to be brave enough to take the first step.
Hannah Radner, MA ’19, Global Communication
– Life’s Path
I learned life’s path does not have to move in a straight line. A woman told me this at a mentoring fair I went to. She drew a straight line on a sticky note, then drew over it with a winding curly cue of a line. Both ended at the same point, but the straight line represented her career expectations while the curly one represented reality. We all have a vision, whether it be clear or hazy, of where we’re going, but we don’t have to have all the answers to how we’re going to get there. And that’s okay.
Hillel Zand, BA ’19, International Affairs and Economics
-Our Challenge
You chose this path because you realized that America is not America without the rest of the world. You understood that in order to understand the world, you must become proficient in multiple areas of study. These realizations required both a determination and humility that I have found in every one of my peers during our past four years. Now, we have been entrusted to remedy the mistakes made in the global arena, and build upon the successes.
Ambika Nair, BA ’19, International Affairs and Economics
– Never Be Afraid to Admit What You Don’t Know
I grew up as a multilingual child learning English, Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam and battled with a dual identity as a South Asian-American in a town of Asian and Latin American immigrants. This was my gateway to international affairs.
I’ve learned to never be afraid to admit what I don’t know. Sharing your unique perspectives generates new ways of thinking, framing, and analyzing the most important global questions. Many students and I deeply appreciate the commitment to diversity and inclusion the Elliott School has made to ensure that the field of international affairs is more accessible and equitable for everyone.
Anna Goltermann, BA ’18, International Affairs
– What Makes Elliott Students Different?
As a first-generation college student in a family of eight, I grew up envisioning this moment for years, using it as a life preserver in an unsteady world. What makes the Elliott School profoundly different is that the students here deliberately choose to look beyond themselves; instead, to look to those around. Elliott students look to the world.
A university education provides us with a humbling responsibility. All of us are destined to change the world in some way, and I hope we do it with compassion. We would not be here without the help of those who came before us, and with their spirit we continue to shape the future. I hope that we remain courageous and selfless in our pursuit of change.
Neia Omer, MA ’19, International Development Studies
– Determinism and Freewill
Paulo Coelho in The Alchemist writes that our dreams and paths are already outlined for us to follow. That when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. Once you show that you are committed, the universe will respond. Dreams don’t work unless you do.
Yint Hmu, MA ’19, Security Policy Studies
– A Better Tomorrow
Our experiences vary, and from this point on, our paths will diverge. What we share is fundamental. What we share is beyond an experience and an education. What we share is the way we see the world — not as it is, but for what it can be.
Keep the passion, keep the idealism, and keep moving towards the world that you know it can be. The promise of a better tomorrow is in peril only when you give in to pessimism.
Cortney Vaughn, BA ’19, International Affairs
– The Choice Between What is Right and What is Easy
In life it will always be easy to choose the comfortable path, but I have realized that the path of the unknown is far more rewarding. I am grateful for my Elliott school education for pushing me outside of my comfort zone in my studies and in my professional endeavors. I am grateful to my professors for helping me explore my true passions. And lastly, I am thankful for my peers for reminding me of my capabilities and my dedication to following my dreams.
If you ever find yourself in a position where you feel torn between what you feel is right and what you feel is easy, I hope you think back on your experiences here at GW: the values, the knowledge, and the passion that distinguishes us, and I am positive you will make the right decision.
Sydney Nelson, BA ’19, International Affairs & Organizational Sciences
– We Will Be the Change
We have never been afraid to challenge each other and, more importantly, ourselves. We have recognized that progress comes from inclusive dialogues where we’re fearless in examining our own preconceived notions. We’ve embraced that responsibility in first being willing to change ourselves before embarking on changing the world.
Thank you for pushing me, each other, and the Elliott School, our home away from home, to be better, dream bigger, and raise higher. I cannot wait to see the change we’ll continue to create in the world.
