Jordann Lee Professor Erdmann Informational Interview Paper 23 October 2013 Interview with Executive Director US-Pakistan Womens

Council Sarah Peck As a current intern, I am in the process of developing a solid plan for my future. Before attending WII, I thought I was certain that I was going to attend law school to become an International Relations business lawyer. That soon changed the more I understood IR and our US foreign policies. I also thought I was going to choose a career that solely focused on immigration within this country and Latin America. This idea was broken apart after interning at my internship for a month, but my dream to have a career in IR has not changed. I never thought about becoming a US diplomat until the first guest speaker for WII at the beginning of the semester. Working for the State Department did not become a future career choice for sure until last Wednesdays Class. Sarah Peck attended as a guest speaker to speak to both the Foreign Policy class and the Global Womens class as well. I did not have any idea that I was going to really enjoy what she had to say and take a deeper interest in becoming a Foreign Service Officer. Peck was well poised and seemed very enthused about her career, and as she spoke I got a sense of a feeling of wanting to pursue this career as a choice after I graduate. After class I was sure to ask her for a business card to conduct an interview for the assignment and as well for my own curiosity. Without having any idea of what questions I was going to ask her, I emailed her to set up a time that was best for her to speak with me. Pecks official title is Executive Director US-Pakistan Womens Council. Explained by Peck, her role as a Foreign Service officer is to form linkages between the US and Pakistan. As the director of the womens council, she manages a small staff, and is in charge of the funding

Jordann Lee Professor Erdmann Informational Interview Paper 23 October 2013 for the program. The Womens council is currently a tour for Miss Peck. What was very interesting to learn about her, is that she has been successful within three career choices. After attending undergrad school at the University of Florida, Peck went to have a career in the field of advertisement and design. As a duty in this field, she designed for different television shows and commercials. I was very curious to why she then left that career if she loved her job. She then told me that she really did enjoy this line of work but it was not challenging enough for her. At the age of thirty she chose to go to law school to pursue a law degree. As a piece of advice, she shared with me that making her life choices never seemed to be linear. Her career strategy is to always to do things that interested and challenged her. After attending law school, she had a very successful career as litigator working at a law firm in Paris, France. This is where she then changed her mind about her career choice and wanted to something more meaningful in life. Something that would make a difference in the world, and something that was both interesting and satisfying. During the time Peck was in Paris, September 11 had taken place. As she watched the towers fall to the ground, she told herself that she must do something significant. This is how the idea of a Foreign Service Officer came about as a career choice. Although this may seem like the ideal job and a great career choice, it takes a lot of hard work and studying to even get in. Sarah had shared with the class prior to this interview that it took her two years before actually working for the Department of State. The Foreign Service officer is long and difficult test, where one must really prepare before actually taking the test. The way she explained the exam, it sounds like you literally have to have a brush of knowledge on everything and anything possible. Perhaps the exam is very challenging; yet I am willing to

Jordann Lee Professor Erdmann Informational Interview Paper 23 October 2013 prepare for it in order to obtain a career such as this. Foreign Service officers are able to travel all over the world, make a difference in other peoples lives in other countries, and get to serve a great purpose to the United States. This is something I yearn to do a future as dream career after attending graduate school. Currently working at the State Department, Peck is hoping to change the perception of those overseas about Americans, while trying to change the perception of Americans of those who are from other countries. Mainly and ideally with the Pakistani community, since she is working closely the people of Pakistan, she hopes for them to see that not all Americans are hateful or evil. As for Americans, her goal is to ensure the people that not all Pakistani people are terrorist that wants to bring harm to this country. Social media is where she is putting more focus and emphasis on. Another reason that I chose to conduct an interview with her, is the fact that she is working on fighting poverty, especially one with the primary focus is on women in destitute third world countries like Pakistan. I asked Ms. Peck what was her overall feelings and experience as working for the Department of State. She shared with me that being considered an American diplomat while overseas brought upon a great feeling. She always said that is a joy to her to meet extraordinary and ordinary people while on her job. Doing the tours in different exotic countries is always something exciting for her, which what I really want in life. The least exciting part for her is where she had to work in Washington at a desk writing emergency papers, it was very intense, a lot of pressure during the time, and not enjoyable, she included that she never wanted to work in Washington again! The most exciting part for her is too able to talk about crises, meet with NGOs, and learning new things about different cultures.

Jordann Lee Professor Erdmann Informational Interview Paper 23 October 2013 Two of my most important questions were, if she ever felt intimidate as women while working with very important men; as well as what was most challenging part on her job. In short, she stated that she did not really feel intimidated because she had the right credentials behind her. Other women have paved the way for her and many others in the State Department. She also feels that its about which class of life you come from; she was fortunate enough to have an easier time starting off unlike others. The difficult part comes into place while trying to keep US interest in mind and keeping ones morals at the same time. Peck, told me that there has been plenty of times that she wanted to speak up and tell the truth on a certain issue, but could not. Although she has this internal professional conflict, there has not been a time that she thought about resigning due to something she did not morally agree with. Conducting this interview was by far a great experience. I was not expecting Ms. Peck to be as helpful and generous as she was. This has help a great deal, considering that facts that her honesty has made me think life and my career path differently. I understand that taking the Foreign Service Officer exam may be very difficult but I feel like the challenge on whats to come after the hard part, is exciting and worth it.