Jessica Warner
At the University of Washington, Jessica pursued a degree in Political Science and Spanish, with a concentration in International Security. However, this was just a stepping stone in her broader journey toward civic engagement and advocacy beyond the classroom. Beginning in her sophomore year as a fellow with Undergraduate Community-Based Internships, she gained exposure to social work and the barriers youth face in South Seattle. This experience pushed her to deepern her involvement in developing and implementing public policy solutions. As a Legislative Advocacy and Community Organizing Fellow for the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Jessica organized volunteers to mobilize in support of gun violence prevention and conducted research on the implementation of Extreme Risk Protection Orders. As a Data Experimentation Intern for Movement Labs she got firsthand exposure to groundbreaking experiments in voter mobilization, identifying ways to engage rural voters through advancing technology. She now serves as the Chief of Staff for the Washington Youth Alliance, supporting youth to realize their potential and advocate for themselves at all levels of government. While never forgetting her Colorado roots, Jessica is ready to embark on the next chapter of her professional journey, whether as a cultural ambassador abroad or through research that supports the U.S. diplomatic corps. Serving as an English Teaching Assistant in Peru felt like a fantastic opportunity to immerse herself in Spanish-speaking communities, return to working with children, and engage with pressing policy issues in Latin America.
Goals
In the next year, I hope to travel or work abroad and strengthen my language skills, as well as continue engaging in research on peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Beyond the near future, I hope to serve as a Foreign Service Officer and build lasting, constructive relationships that better both U.S. and societies abroad.
Tips
Don't limit yourself from achieving your potential! With everything else in life it can be easy to put an application off or write yourself off early, thinking you won't be qualified for the position. Be kind to yourself and recognize your capacity, but try your best and apply to things with even the lowest chance of success. If you're passionate about something, there is a good chance someone will recognize that!
