A Bit About Myself
Growing up on the beautiful Oregon coast of the Pacific Northwest after years of moving and living throughout the United States, I was no stranger to the travel bug and I developed an adventurous sprit with a deep passion for exploring the world around me. I was homeschooled growing up and had the privilege of spending my senior year of high school as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student in Izmir, Turkey. My year abroad in Turkey enriched my soul and opened up an entire new world to me, henceforth directing my lifelong passion towards a focus on international relations.
Attending Portland State University, in Portland, Oregon, I focused my academic career on Middle Eastern Studies with a focus on Turkish and gender equality. Throughout my academic career, I had the opportunity to return to Turkey, this time to Istanbul, to study advanced Turkish language through the intensive Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) through State Department. This opportunity strengthened my Turkish language skills and allowed me to return to PSU to continue my advanced language courses through the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) scholarship.
Upon graduation from PSU, I knew I wanted to continue deepening my understanding of international affairs, so I made the excellent choice of attending the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, where I gained an expertise in international policy and development through highly specialized, hands-on, and highly applicable courses, projects, and programs offered through MIIS to prepare graduates with a specialization ready to meet the demands of the industry.
Attending Portland State University, in Portland, Oregon, I focused my academic career on Middle Eastern Studies with a focus on Turkish and gender equality. Throughout my academic career, I had the opportunity to return to Turkey, this time to Istanbul, to study advanced Turkish language through the intensive Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) through State Department. This opportunity strengthened my Turkish language skills and allowed me to return to PSU to continue my advanced language courses through the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) scholarship.
Upon graduation from PSU, I knew I wanted to continue deepening my understanding of international affairs, so I made the excellent choice of attending the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, where I gained an expertise in international policy and development through highly specialized, hands-on, and highly applicable courses, projects, and programs offered through MIIS to prepare graduates with a specialization ready to meet the demands of the industry.
What Brings Me to Istanbul?
As the final semester of my Masters program at MIIS, I have been selected as a International Professional Service Semester Fellow where I now have the opportunity to work as an intern to fulfill my final academic credits at MIIS and strengthen my understanding and experience directly within my field of professional interest.
I am honred to be currently working as an intern at UN Women Europe and Central Asia Regional Office - based in Istanbul, Turkey - where I serve as a Programme Intern working to support gender equality and women's empowerment related projects throughout the region. Throughout my 6 month internship, I will also be completing a specialized project that meets a need within the organization and that combines the skills I have gained as a graduate student at MIIS, and the newfound first-hand expertise I am developing through my internship.
In addition to my internship, I am fully enjoying the chance to explore Istanbul, immerse myself into the unique culture, and further hone my language skills. This blog was developed to share my thoughts, pictures, videos,and experiences with you all. Thank you so much for following along! :)
I am honred to be currently working as an intern at UN Women Europe and Central Asia Regional Office - based in Istanbul, Turkey - where I serve as a Programme Intern working to support gender equality and women's empowerment related projects throughout the region. Throughout my 6 month internship, I will also be completing a specialized project that meets a need within the organization and that combines the skills I have gained as a graduate student at MIIS, and the newfound first-hand expertise I am developing through my internship.
In addition to my internship, I am fully enjoying the chance to explore Istanbul, immerse myself into the unique culture, and further hone my language skills. This blog was developed to share my thoughts, pictures, videos,and experiences with you all. Thank you so much for following along! :)