While I didn’t receive the Marshall Scholarship, during the application process I passed the exams to enter the U.S. Foreign Service as a diplomat. That was my goal all along, and I think the fellowship preparation I did with UFO provided me with skills that helped me achieve it.

The semester in Paris was way outside my comfort zone, but it gave me the confidence to pursue whatever opportunities become available in any corner of the world. I plan to apply for everything I can and see what doors open up.

The fellowship application process was excellent preparation for graduate school applications, and being a Goldwater and Astronaut Scholar was undoubtedly a huge factor in my successful graduate school admissions so far - I’ve been accepted to several of the top Physics PhD programs in the country. The Fellowships Office has been an integral part of my success in applying for these fellowships. I was always encouraged and made aware of opportunities, and I’ve received feedback on my essays and interview preparation help.

As a fellow I am working on my dissertation research and also using the Senegalese National Archives to help me understand the colonial origins of the present-day bureaucracy. I hope to learn more about the ways in which the bureaucracy can shape public policy, and how the bureaucracy’s interactions with citizens help government stability and development.

The application process taught me more about myself than I realized. It allowed me to see the narrative that I am crafting with my studies and activities, as well as forcing me to realize how my involvements support my passions and future goals.

Studying psychology already holds extra incentive for me with my Christian faith and the Navajo teachings of Hózhó (reverence for the beauty in everything on earth), which have taught me the value of human connectedness, spreading hope and finding meaning in life.