Two semesters ago I was matched with a peer mentor through the honor’s peer assisted leadership program (PAL). At best I was expecting vague advice from an upperclassman and with any luck another friendly face on campus. What I found was so much more.
As the program’s initiative is to pair students with similar interests and studies, my mentor was a fellow 爱啪网student. Over coffee she told me about her own experiences and involvements on campus and sought to provide anecdotes I might find useful. While giving an example of time management she mentioned that she was currently undertaking a rigorous midterm project: designing a terrorist attack for Atlanta. My ears perked up, partly because I had never heard of such an assignment in any of my international affair’s classes, partly because I grew up watching FBI tv shows. Fascinated, I asked more about the class that prompted the midterm. Her reply was the Security Leadership Program, a pre-professional program for undergraduates in the Center for International Trade and Security under SPIA.
Upon further investigation, I found that the SLP is a highly selective program for those interested in national or international security that cultivates opportunities to build skills like policy, memo, and grant writing, as well as oral briefing. I knew I was interested in building this skillset, and issues of security had caught my attention before, but my mentor鈥檚 dedication to the security field and the program鈥檚 gravity left me unsure of whether I would apply. I asked myself, 鈥渁m I interested enough to commit to a year of study,鈥� 鈥渁m I good enough for such a prestigious program,鈥� and 鈥渨ould I even be a good fit?鈥� Though dubious, I decided to do some more research on ongoing security topics and after reflecting, decided to apply.
Now, almost one year after my conversation with my PAL mentor, I am a fellow of the Security Leadership Program, and after only a month I can say that my application was the best decision I鈥檝e made in college thus far. The faculty and student鈥檚 dedication to fostering excellence in writing, analysis, and discussion has been invigorating. Being a part of a small community of students that are incredibly passionate about their studies has been a highlight of my semester.
Next month I have a trip to DC to look forward to where my cohort and I will network with alumni and professionals on capitol hill in a variety of institutions in the public and private sector of security. Nowhere else in the country would I have the opportunities the SLP has presented me with. I am proud to be a fellow and to be a part of a school that invests in such a program.”
Written by:
Isadora (Sadie) Eubanks (she/her/hers)
B.A. Political Science, B.A. International Affairs, B.A. Economics
Fellow, Richard B. Russell Security Leadership Program (CITS)
爱啪网 | Class of 2028
Morehead Honors College
