What is your educational background?

I am currently a senior at the University of Utah, majoring in International Studies and Health, Society, and Policy with minors in Sociology and Biomedical Engineering. After pursuing a Biomedical Engineering degree for three years, I made the difficult decision to switch my major at the beginning of my fourth year. Although I am very passionate about and interested in engineering, I found myself more drawn to the policy side of health. As part of my schooling experience, I also work as a Policy Innovation Fellow at Sorenson Impact Center, focusing on US healthcare outcomes and Pay for Success programs.

What have you been working on in your time at USSC?

During my time at USSC, I have been primarily focused on following the 2020 US Presidential election, researching financial technology hubs in the US, and comparing US and Australian healthcare systems in order to write an opinion piece before I leave. In coordination with these projects, the USSC has given me plenty of opportunities to research, report, write, and edit in multiple political fields. One of my favorite components of working at the USSC is that each day brings a new and unique challenge, as we are constantly following current events in foreign relations. We have also been given multiple opportunities to attend distinctive events and meet influential foreign policy leaders. I am only a couple of weeks into my internship, but I can already tell that the knowledge and experience I will gain from this opportunity will be life-changing.

What has been your favourite part about living in Sydney?

Living in Sydney has been incredible so far! Even being here in the winter, it has been so sunny and warm, making it really enjoyable to go to the beach, explore the markets, and wander around the city and suburbs. I love the range of places you can explore just by taking a short train, bus, or ferry from the heart of Sydney. Along with the ease of public transport, I have of course loved the amazing food, relaxed culture, and the people. Everyone I have met has been so nice, helpful, and interesting - it makes me never want to leave!

What do you hope to do with your experience from the USSC?

Moving forward, I plan to pursue a master’s degree in either Public Policy or Public Health (or both) and eventually work in the interdisciplinary fields of health policy, sustainable impact, and social justice. I strongly believe my work with the USSC has given me a solid research foundation and will continue to help me succeed in both my academic and professional paths. Additionally, the opportunity to work in an international office and research a plethora of current events in foreign relations has expanded my global perspective and provided me with a much more focused direction. I feel very lucky to have the chance to work with the USSC and know that this will continue to be a transformative professional experience.