Development and Advocacy Program Manager,
United Nations Association of the National Capital Area
I started studying German in high school because I have family living there. I continued learning German at Austin College by pairing my International Relations major with a German minor. Throughout my studies, countless experiences have emphasized that learning a language is far more than simply memorizing vocabulary or struggling with grammar. Learning another language is also about building bridges across cultural gaps; this is something that I now do through my work every day and hope to do more of in my career. Getting to utilize what I learned through Austin College’s many multidisciplinary, experiential learning opportunities such as studying coffee culture in Vienna and learning about multilateral diplomacy for a semester in Switzerland prepared me in many ways for my career. Living and working in Washington, DC, I get to connect at work with potential partners and expand my own personal network through utilizing the German language. I have had the opportunity to connect with many people through starting my conversation with the phrase “Sprechen Sie Deutsch?” I would absolutely encourage anyone who is interested in international affairs to learn the German language at Austin College.