Posted: Sep 02, 2020

D.C. and the Semester Ahead: How I Got Here

Solo photo of Audrey Pederson with a photo of Audrey in front of The Heritage Foundation where she is working for fall 2020.

*This series follows softball junior Audrey Pederson through her 2020 fall semester as she works and studies in Washington, D.C. Each post represents the feelings, thoughts and motivations in her own words.

One of the main reasons I chose Carnegie Mellon University was because I knew that it would push me out of my comfort zone. Coming from a rural New England town, I knew that I wanted to grow into a place like Pittsburgh – and that's exactly why I chose to go to D.C., too.

As an international relations and politics major, I had been aware of the Washington Semester Program (WSP) since my first semester on campus. As an athlete, however, I wasn't sure how or if it would fit into my time here. After having it on my mind for months, I finally met with my advisor, Emily Half, and she walked through what the semester in D.C. really looks like, and how it would impact me academically and professionally. I then went and talked with my coach, Monica Harrison, to see if it would even be do-able considering softball's abbreviated fall season. Once I had all of the information in front of me and I had talked with classmates who had gone prior, I realized that the Washington Program is not just classes and internships. There are networking events, alumni mentorships, policy briefings, and professional development workshops all put in place to get you exactly where you want to be professionally.

A few weeks later, I was accepted into the program and began meeting with Meghan Mattern, who is the internship advisor for CMU's Washington Semester Program. Between her and my professors, I curated a list of top tier think tanks and institutes to apply to. Meghan has been the biggest resource for me this summer as I have worked through the craziness of applications and interviews during COVID-19. By early August, I had two job offers in front of me, both of which I was ecstatic about. Fast forward to the present where I am currently in D.C. taking classes and beginning work at the Heritage Foundation's Center for National Defense where I will be researching weapons of mass destruction and counter proliferation alongside Dr. Peter Brookes.

The entire process from applying to the Washington Semester Program to accepting the offer from Heritage took about six months. The thoughts of "What if I don't get a job offer?" or "Will this set me back athletically?" have crossed my mind many times, but having such a solid support system in Emily, Coach Harrison, and Meghan has reaffirmed that this is the right path to take, and it is worth it.

Considering how COVID-19 has impacted all of our academic and athletic experiences, I realize how lucky I am to still have this opportunity in front of me. While my internship will be remote, Carnegie Mellon is permitting the WSP students to resume in-person classes. Coach Harrison is also working with me remotely and I will still be able to attend team events virtually so that I can stay in the loop.

One thing professors and peers have all said is that the Washington Semester Program is one of the most transformative experiences a CMU student may have. I cannot wait to see how this semester will transform me. My goal is to use the knowledge I gain through this experience in a career centered in national security and counter terrorism. I want to use my skills to serve this country, and to help make the world a better, safer place. In the meantime, I'll be working, studying, and now blogging, so make sure you check back in every once in a while, to see what I've been up to.