The Coolest Thing Eva!
I got to talk to a Foreign Service officer today. It was amazing! That's my greatest dream...this man did it. He worked for the State department for thirty years in 6 countries. I was awed by him. He came to talk in my PS 380, which I was a hair's breadth from skipping today. I'm soooo, sooo glad that I didn't.
I asked a ton of questions during his presentation, moving to the front row so that I could see and hear better (I usually sit in the back, which is indicative of how boring it is, because I of all people usually sit near the front in every class). After class, I hung around asking more questions, and even walked him out to his car after everyone else left. He probably thought I was a little weird, but...oh, God, it was so exciting talking to an insider!
He said that out of the 25,000 or so who take the foreign service exam each year, after the whole process is finished, they hire about 200. So, the odds are a little less than 1%. I feel pretty confident. I have no reason to, but I do anyway. He told us all about the test and the hiring process and how the job works once you're in.
I've said it before, I'll say it again. I want this so much.
I would do anything to work for the State department. Helping people abroad, gathering information, working in government...it's everything I want to do, all bundled into one.
He even went to Korea--he was in the Peace Corps in Korea when he applied. And he assured me that Japanese will help me learn Korean.
I feel so affirmed! I can do it! It's possible. I just met someone who did, and he was like me.
I asked a ton of questions during his presentation, moving to the front row so that I could see and hear better (I usually sit in the back, which is indicative of how boring it is, because I of all people usually sit near the front in every class). After class, I hung around asking more questions, and even walked him out to his car after everyone else left. He probably thought I was a little weird, but...oh, God, it was so exciting talking to an insider!
He said that out of the 25,000 or so who take the foreign service exam each year, after the whole process is finished, they hire about 200. So, the odds are a little less than 1%. I feel pretty confident. I have no reason to, but I do anyway. He told us all about the test and the hiring process and how the job works once you're in.
I've said it before, I'll say it again. I want this so much.
I would do anything to work for the State department. Helping people abroad, gathering information, working in government...it's everything I want to do, all bundled into one.
He even went to Korea--he was in the Peace Corps in Korea when he applied. And he assured me that Japanese will help me learn Korean.
I feel so affirmed! I can do it! It's possible. I just met someone who did, and he was like me.