Beginning 2021 with Five Reminders for your Foreign Policy Career
/Cast your mind back to two years ago in January 2019. A lot has changed since then, right? For me, I was entering my second semester of an MSc in Human Rights, beginning a six month volunteer internship at the United Nations Association in Westminster and *most importantly* I had just begun volunteering for Women in Foreign Policy. Life was incredibly busy, social and fun and I made the most of my final year as a student before I was doomed to embrace full time adulting. As is for most students approaching the end of their studies - it was also a period of overwhelming uncertainty. After the predictable linear transition from high school, to my undergraduate degree, to my Masters - I had reached a point where for the first time, I didn’t know what was next. In my usual (perhaps naive) optimism, I hoped I would graduate, move out from university halls to a flat in London, and begin a graduate role.
Flash-forward to January 2020, having graduated a month earlier, just moved into a flat in London, and embarking on my first post-graduate job in the world of politics and international affairs - you could say that for the most part, things had gone my way. That was of course until March 2020. A global pandemic rocked the world and I did not see it coming. Most of us didn’t, and since then we’ve endured national lockdowns, if we were lucky - working from home, and the head spinning, astonishing and harrowing grief, uncertainty and instability that Covid-19 has transformed our lives with. For most people, the transition from full time education to full time work can be a harsh learning kerb - and in the midst of a global pandemic - that ‘kerb’ felt like a steep cliff to me. With regards to lessons learned - there was no instant catharsis. Far from it, I’ve been in a constant state of learning (and unlearning). As we begin 2021, I wanted to share some of what I’ve learnt with the WiFP community - summarised into my five most valuable lessons from the past two years:
Be an opportunist not a planner - ‘Job titles are for wimps’ is what the Deputy Director of my team told me on the first day of my new job post-MSc. Don’t wait until you’re in your dream role at the end of your five year plan - if you want to learn or be involved in something then ask, if you find a gap then fill it and if you have an idea then share it. As a junior member of staff - it was an empowering message to hear, but of course comes with the caveat of knowing when to say no if you feel like you’re being taken advantage of. Being proactive and adaptable is fundamental in the field of International Affairs, where global priorities and attention can quickly shift. Be open to changing what you thought you wanted, reconsidering your goals, and pay attention to opportunities emerging around you.
Embrace vulnerability - The guest writers for WiFP newsletters routinely stun me with the power of vulnerability. In every piece, we get a snapshot of their reality, whether it’s from an activist on the ground in the days following the catastrophic explosion in Beirut, a young black woman living in America at the height of Black Lives Matter protests, or simply the countless women who share their individual, unique and inspiring career journeys, complete with the obstacles they faced along the way. It is terrifying to share your challenges, oppression and insecurities - do it anyway. Vulnerability is key to building a world with more empathy, where all of us feel comfortable and safe in being our ‘whole selves’.
Take control of your self-development - Pro-actively continue learning! Whether that’s through reading, volunteering, courses or seeking out mentors. This also extends beyond your field of work - we all have a personal responsibility in educating ourselves on mental health, anti-racism, inclusion, privilege, inequality and so much more. To put it bluntly, in the internet age, ignorance is a choice, not an excuse.
Be firm with your boundaries - Understanding your boundaries is absolutely vital in managing personal resilience, well being, and productivity. If you don’t master the art of saying no, or learn to prioritise rest - you will eventually burnout. Figure out what you need to maintain a healthy work/life balance and stick to it.
As I mark two years as WiFP’s Newsletter Manager, I’ve decided it’s time to diversify my experiences and move to a different volunteer role within the team. In spite of countless changes in my life since starting the role, being WiFP’s Newsletter Manager remained a wonderful constant. I’ve loved my role and volunteering for this organisation. On that note, I will end on lesson number five (which is more of a fact).
5. Womxn are amazing. Whether it’s through my WiFP team, guest writers, my colleagues or my family and friends - I am repeatedly reminded of the awe-inspiring strength, talent and paid and unpaid labour that women do on a daily basis. Resisting and undoing the confinements of patriarchy and closing the gap in representation and inequality along the way. In moments of despair, I have always found hope in the strong women around me and as we begin a new year, I will remind myself to continue doing so.
Sara
Sara Sajjad is WiFP’s Newsletter Manager who is now joining the editorial team as Interviews Contributor.