My journey in the field of peace studies began my freshman year at Chapman when I decided to take Introduction to Human Rights (PCST 200). My intention was for this class to fulfill a GE credit but I ended up being deeply inspired to dive deeper into the field and was captivated by the dialogue involving war and violence. 

I began as an environmental science and policy major and political science minor, but after taking another peace studies course the following year, I knew I needed to find a way to incorporate peace studies into the rest of my college experience. Therefore, although I knew it was going to be much more academically strenuous to do so, I declared a second major in peace studies.

What interests me the most about peace studies is the intersection of environmental justice and peace, which are concepts that I find to be lacking in both fields. Therefore, I would like to pursue a profession that focuses on this intersection in order to address global issues that we face today. While I remain unsure about the specific profession I would ideally like to pursue, I know that there are many opportunities available to me in this day and age where there is such a high demand for peace and justice workers. 

There are so many routes to consider when deciding on a career in peace studies. The more “common” or well known routes include diplomacy, law, non-profits, and social work. These are all options that I really take interest in, it is difficult to see myself actually in these positions and don’t necessarily spark as much inspiration as other endless options. I do worry about what direction I want to take in my career after graduating and despite the fact that I have considered law and research, I find a particular interest in developing environmental policy on a federal level. Positions in this field such as a policy analyst would ideally fulfill my passion for protecting the planet and people on a larger scale. 

Actually pursuing this specific career option would require me to obtain at least a masters degree and gain experience in or specializing in policy development. I could see myself stepping my foot into the door by beginning at a local level as a policy analyst and serving local representatives. Additionally, my experiences at Chapman 

working on relevant projects and as a student researcher has helped me gain necessary skills for this type of work. 

While I am nervous and a little sad about the idea of graduating and no longer attending Chapman, I am excited about what is to come in this next chapter of my life after undergrad.