Hillary Clinton Comes to Georgetown!

Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Georgetown University last week to speak about "Energy Diplomacy in the 21st Century."  I was one of the lucky few who stood in line and was able to see her speak.  Being from Alaska, the topic of energy is of particular importance to me.  It is surely one of the largest challenges and opportunities of the 21st century and beyond.

My ticket!

 Seeing Secretary Clinton in person was surreal.  She was my first "political celebrity," yet her voice, mannerisms, way of speaking, and even her hair was already familiar to me.  I greatly admire her leadership and what she has done at the US State Department since being appointed by President Obama in 2009.

Dean Carol Lancaster (Dean of Georgetown School of Foreign Service), and Secretary Clinton

Clinton’s speech came a year after the State Department established the Bureau of Energy Resources, which leads the State Department’s diplomatic efforts on energy. “In the coming weeks, I will be sending policy guidance to every U.S. embassy worldwide,” she said, “instructing them to elevate their reporting on energy issues and pursue more outreach to private sector energy partners."

Video of her speech on Energy Diplomacy and transcript is available here. If any other political celebs visit, I'll try and be first in line!

Welcome to DC!

Adios Alaska, hello Washington, DC!  I've officially transplanted myself to the east coast and have been living here for 6 weeks now.  Graduate school started a month ago, and I'm in the midst of writing papers and preparing for mid-term examinations.  I have a new roommate, apartment, and new friends, but I'm still the same old Penny (just slightly more stressed and busy).

Row Houses

If you were wondering, graduate school at Georgetown is no joke.  I knew going back to school would be difficult, but this is quite intense.  I've been trying to make a concerted effort not to "complain" about school or try and get sympathy from my social networks (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) (I mean, I chose to come here and I'm paying lots of money for it, so why complain?), so I'll try keep it brief here, too.  Basically, I feel like I could be studying or reading about 12 hours/day, and I would still have more work I could do.  One of the biggest hurdles I'm facing is actually remembering how to be an efficient student again: note-taking during class, reading comprehension, critical thinking, concentration under pressure, time management, eliminating distractions...  It's been four years since I left undergrad, so it's been a while...  And Georgetown is more intense than any other educational experience I've had before.  I feel challenged, but as I told my mom, "I'm treading water, I'm not drowning yet!"

Georgetown University (bears a resemblance to Hogwarts Castle, eh?)

My classmates are very interesting and diverse; arguably the best part of the program (besides its location in DC).  About 40% of my incoming class (there are a little over 90 of us), is international.  Students have come from Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, Germany, France, Spain, Columbia, Australia, Singapore, China, Japan, Moldova, Dominican Republic....  Of course, there are students from all over the United States as well (even another girl who grew up in Alaska!)  It's amazing to hear the different accents, opinions, languages, and stories from this diverse group.  What is even more intriguing is that we all share certain things in common: interest in the international community, intercultural interaction, politics, and the improvement of our shared world.  We've been organizing barbeques, parties and happy hours; along with study groups, and study sessions.  This makes for some extreme bonding.  Although I've only known my classmates for a month, I feel very close to many of them.  I know this group of people will be very important for the rest of my life, professionally and personally.  It reminds me a lot of Peace Corps: a small group of people going through the exact same experience together for two years, sharing the same stresses and joys.

My program's student lounge

Working on our international economics course

I've been trying to get out as much as I can into DC and nearby areas when I can escape from studying.  The summer is winding down and the weather is beautiful now.  Apples, pumpkins, and yellow leaves are everywhere.  Young people are the majority in this city and there is always something going on: concerts, cultural events, poetry slams, international leaders speaking, film festivals, new Smithsonian exhibits, disc golf tournaments...  I'm in a bit of shock after two years in rural Nicaragua, and a year in dark, cold Alaska.

Farmer's Market

Georgetown Law School Library I often read in

Washington, DC is very diverse.  On my walk from my apartment to the metro, I pass through a largely African-American neighborhood with a soup kitchen and large homeless population, the "Chinatown" neighborhood with its endless dumpling and noodle restaurants, and the Georgetown Law School, which is full of very smart (mainly white) students.  It's quite the juxtaposition...  DC is so small and so diverse, you can walk a few blocks and be a world away from where you started.  Obscure cuisine like Ethiopian is "big" in DC, also brunch and "Happy Hour" (illegal back home in Alaska since it promotes drinking).  I'm enjoying observing a lot of what goes on around me; people watching provides endless entertainment. 

View of the US Capitol building from the top of my apartment complex

More to come soon (and hopefully better written and better organized).  I just wanted to jot down a few of my recent thoughts about DC and graduate school and share some photos.

Graduate School and Debt - The Big Decision

I've been back in the United States for a year now. Wow!  The familiar weight of my iPhone is a constant presence in my hand or pocket, and my fingers can type a text message without my eyes' help anymore.  I've become accustomed to drinking tap water and not getting sick, I can sleep through the night without worrying about my house getting broken into, hot showers no longer feel like a luxury, and I'm beginning to lose my taste for beans.  My Spanish doesn't come as easily as it did, but I cultivate it through monthly calls with Nicaraguan friends on Skype.  I'm officially converting back into an American again... We all knew this day was coming.

When I first arrived home, it was initially hard to find a job.  For the summer, I worked as a sales associate at an outerwear store.  I was grateful to have something, but I was starting to freak out about my future.  Then an opportunity came up to work at an Alaskan foundation that grants millions to nonprofit organizations in our state every year.  I worked there as a temporary employee for four months, getting my feet back on the "professional ground" as it were, and remembering what it was like to be in an office and work at a computer every day.  After that, I moved to Alaska's capital city, Juneau to work as a Legislative Aide for the Alaska State Senate, a position I currently hold. 

Working for the Legislature has been a whirlwind experience.  This is my first experience with state government and policy making and I felt like I was trying to drink from a fire hose.  Every day brought new challenges and the short 90 day legislative session put everything in a time crunch.  Working late and on the weekends was normal for our office, so the fact that Alaska received record snowfall this winter didn't phase me much; I was inside for most of it. 

Despite these great jobs, my long-held goal of earning my Master's degree persists, and I applied to several schools to study international relations.  I have accepted admission at Georgetown University and will begin graduate studies in the Master of Science in Foreign Service program this fall.  While I'm excited to begin school and live in Washington DC, I waffled over the decision as I thought about the repercussions of taking out large student loans.

I applied to schools without thinking about the cost of attendance; I just wanted to see where I could get in.  Now that the decision is finally upon me, I'm realizing that taking out around $80K in loans is no joke.  I have no loans from undergraduate study, and I appreciate and enjoy the freedom this gives me in my life.  Having my Master's will undoubtedly open professional doors that would have been inaccessible otherwise, and allow me to earn more over my lifetime, but it also means that I will have to be working from the moment of graduation until they are paid off (possible 10+ years). 

As I contemplated this decision, I looked to many friends and family for advice.  Everyone told me something different.  "Debt is just part of life," some would tell me.  "Don't take out more loans than you can expect to make in your first year after graduation," was another piece of advice I often heard.  "Follow your heart!" my friends would say.  "Move to California with me!" one friend countered (I do have to say this was the most tempting option...) 

I stumbled across a great blog by a Harvard University Master's of Business Administration (MBA) graduate: www.nomoreharvarddebt.com  He chronicles his journey into over $100K of debt, and how even after making 21 payments of over $1000, he still owes over $90K due to accumulating interest.  He sees his life being eclipsed by a downward spiral of debt, but is smart enough to take drastic measures (selling off cars, motorcycles, getting roommates, living more frugally...) and pays off all his loans within seven months.  Of course, a lot of this is a no-brainer.  If paying off the debt is really a priority for someone, they can make it happen (of course, it helps to have a Harvard MBA and a well-paying job like the blogger does, too)  As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, I already know how to live frugally, but this is harder to do in the US vs. a developing country.  I'm not a great budgeter, but I think that's because I've never really had to do so before.  I've always had "enough" money to get by and with merit scholarships paying for virtually all of my undergraduate education, I've been able to spend my summer earnings how I pleased.  I know I could work another year or two in the job I have now to save money for graduate school (it's a great job, really), but I'm ready to leave Alaska and advance my education, despite the inherent loans.

I ultimately decided that graduate school at Georgetown University is the best path for me right now.  I've visited the campus a few times, met and spoken with several professors and students, and am familiar with the DC area after living there for an internship in 2008.  I've decided to go for the debt, and I'm at peace with the decision.  Let's just hope all goes as planned (I remember when I joined Peace Corps in January 2009, I thought the recession would be long gone by the time I returned in 2011.  Not so...)

I'm excited to begin this new chapter in my life, although starting school again is intimidating.  I'm going to try and update my blog more often now that I'll be leaving Alaska and my life will probably (*hopefully*) get a little more interesting.  Who knows, maybe I'll start blogging about my own student loan debt, too... But for now, I'm just savoring the sweet feeling of having made my decision, and looking forward to an upcoming winter spent outside of Alaska.