This past summer, I had the opportunity to participate in a week-long job shadow through my school’s global studies certificate program, and it turned out to be one of the most meaningful academic experiences I’ve had throughout my high school career. I spent the week in Washington, D.C. at SIFMA, an international organization that works closely with finance, policy, and law. Walking in on the first day was intimidating. It was clear very quickly that I was one of the youngest job shadows they had ever hosted, and being surrounded by professionals with years of prior experience made me nervous at first.
This feeling of uncertainty and nervousness changed almost immediately because I was mentored by Ally Parent during my first few days. She served as my primary “field expert” and works directly on international law and policy at SIFMA. She went out of her way to make me feel comfortable and included; taking me out to lunch and including me to conversations with people I never thought I’d talk to. One of the highlights was getting the chance to talk to her friend from the U.S. Treasury Department about my interests and future plans. We discussed how the Treasury collaborates with organizations like SIFMA when drafting and reviewing financial policy, and that conversation deepens my understanding on how different organizations might work together on a global scale. Those kinds of conversations make the environment feel so much more approachable and helped me realize that my ideas and questions mattered.
I thank Ally for her mentorship because she didn’t just let me oversee; she trusted me with real work. Throughout the week, she had me read multiple G20 communique letters and identify any financial elements within them. This strengthened my ability to analyze complex global issues and find what’s important. I then compiled all of that information into a long document that the organization could use while drafting a letter to the U.S. Treasury Department. Having a concrete task like this made me feel like I had a sense of purpose at SIFMA and that I was genuinely contributing. It also helped me comprehend global cooperation, since the G20 represents major countries’ economies working together to address financial burdens.
Overall, this job shadow was both challenging and rewarding. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me a real insight into professional environments I hadn’t imagined myself working in yet. I’m incredibly grateful that the Global Studies Certificate Program encouraged me to take this step, because it provided me with an experience that helped me shape how I see my future. It was eye-opening, meaningful, and a positive experience I’ll carry with me as I move onto different academic stages of my life.
