How I Will Spend My Decade by Kelly

How I Will Spend My Decade by Kelly - March 2020 Scholarship Essay

I often take for granted the advantages I get from being a citizen in a democratic nation— the ability to speak my mind, criticize political administrations, and to pitch a ticket for who I think will lead my nation best. My parents’ home country Taiwan has no seat in the UN, and its citizens are barred from entry in UN embassies all over the world. The sad truth is that Taiwan is a democracy diplomatically isolated from the world. I want to major in international relations because I want to be a part of creating a world where more people have the opportunities that I’ve had. Majoring in international relations is a crucial first step in that would allow me to play a role in improving relations between the U.S and Taiwan, to hopefully give Taiwan a seat at the world table. However, I’m also intrinsically interested in criminal justice and the field of law, and so my 10 year career plan will allow me pursue a fruitful career that combines my passion for democracy and my interests in law enforcement.
One of the mantras I adhere to the closest is that failure to plan is a plan to fail. I plan to succeed, specifically as a foreign service officer at the U.S State Department with a specialty in intelligence analyst and eventually a career as an Interpol agent abroad. To achieve this, I’ll earn a bachelor's degree in the next four years, I will be a full time student at UT-Austin, majoring in International Relations with a minor in a foreign language-either French or Mandarin as both languages are relevant in today’s political arena and I have background experience with both. For my chosen career path, a working knowledge in politics is helpful, and so in my junior and senior year of my undergraduate career I will seek an internship in the political field. Throughout college, I hope to be involved in political organizations and student activist clubs.
Additionally, if I hope to become an international law enforcement agent or a government agent within the U.S, it is integral that I have a sturdy foundation in the field of law, not to mention that law school is an excellent opportunity to learn how to think logically. After graduation, I will study for the LSAT and enter law school in pursuit of a Juris Doctorate for 3 years. During my time at law school, I will seek a clerkship at a law firm or with the public defender’s office to gain legal experience. After earning a Juris Doctorate I will either take a bar exam (I’m not sure which state I will be in at that time) or begin looking for jobs with the state department. After earning considerable experience and a positive network at the State Department, I hope to apply to become an Interpol agent, in order to promote a more peaceful world through foreign service.