Another year has gone by too quickly! I’m still in Washington, D.C. pursuing my Master’s degree in International Affairs at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). I graduate in May and plan on sticking around D.C. to look for a job. I’ve really enjoyed my education at SAIS and the amazing opportunities that Washington, D.C. continues to present. This past semester I interned with Women for Women International in their Development Department. Women for Women works to economically empower women in countries that have experienced conflict, and as part of their four person Development team I was responsible for curating profiles of potential donors and working to get over $15 million in donations distributed to our Programs teams that operate throughout Africa and the Middle East. I learned a lot about how to fundraise for non-profit organizations, and I know that these skills will be beneficial for my job search! My last semester is all lined up, and my classes are focused on migration, energy, and the Latin American region. My interest in climate and migration stems from my island home and the threat that a rising sea level poses on my family and countless others on this island. I hope that researching more about what motivates people to migrate as a result of climate change can benefit the future of this community in the future.

As always, I love seeing how MVYouth grows each year, serving more Island kids with dreams of venturing out into the world. I credit MVYouth for the many amazing years that I’ve spent in Washington, D.C., with hopefully more to come! Wishing everyone a great holiday season with friends and family, and many more adventures in 2023!