How did you find out about the minor, and what made you pursue it?
As I was finalizing my final semester schedule with my politics advisor, I came across the PACS minor flyer on the table. Immediately I was interested but also worried that I wouldn’t be able to finish the minor in one semester. Fortunately, my advisor explained that I have already taken two of the electives so all I really needed to take was the Intro to Peace and Conflict class and a restricted class.
How did the minor complement your major(s)? Did you feel that you were able to balance both?
By my last semester at NYU I had only two classes I needed to take to complete my bachelor’s degree in Politics and Journalism. I decided to take one of the classes during the summer so that I was able to focus on the PACS classes during the Fall semester. The minor was a perfect complement to my double major as many of the themes of the PACS minor overlapped with previous classes I have taken. The politics classes I took were mainly theoretical, while the PACS minor was more practical so by the time I earned my degree I was able to analyze an existing conflict & then design a solution to it based on theories I had learned.
What were some of the greatest takeaways from the minor?
The networks definitely. Professor King, who teaches the intro class, urged us to go to events that were taking place around the city that were related to peace and conflict. Because of Professor King’s encouragement I found a reason to step out of the NYU bubble and attend an event hosted by the Argentinean mission to the UN at the Institute for International Education (IIE) on the Safe School Declaration. Those events allowed me to see first hand what I learned in class being implemented on an international scale. Other than the events, Professor King and fellow classmates were constantly sharing news, career and education opportunities that broadened my career path options.
How will the minor help you after college in terms of your professional or future academic life?
I graduated in December 2017 (so I just did the minor for one semester) and I am currently working as a full-time Development and Events intern at International Crisis Group, a conflict prevention NGO. While I am focused on fundraising and events, I am also keeping up with world affairs to produce material that is used when engaging with donors. For example, I am currently working on an Impact Note, which basically requires me to summarize a conflict in the Middle East and explain how ICG helped better the situation brining the country closer to peace.
Any advice for a student that is considering the minor, but still unsure?
Don’t take a job just because it will pay the bills. Intern, volunteer, travel do whatever that will help you reach your long-term goal. Teaching English at a refugee camp in Southern Lebanon could possibly lead you to being the next Special Rapporteur on Human Rights. It’s not about your title or your salary because if you go after what you want then you can achieve anything.
What was the most interesting/engaging class you have taken towards your PACS minor?
International Human Rights Activism and Education with Professor Chrissie Monghan.