Looking back on my first post, I realize that I wrote that I am "trying to figure out how to point my life in the direction I want it to go". Pheew... that's a bit of a random statement, especially since I didn't exactly clarify what that means. So, if I may...
In the spring of 2006 I got involved in a group called STAND: A student anti-genocide coalition (against, more specifically, the genocide in Darfur) and became president of said group in the fall. Not only were my eyes suddenly awakened to the horrors of genocide and poverty in general, but the larger issues of development and security in Africa were overwhelming. I spent many a moment despairing that I was simply not doing enough... though I was endlessly busy juggling the group, school, my job, my TAship, and other things. I thought long and hard about becoming a doctor and committing myself to working with organizations such as Doctors Without Borders (our chosen NGO that we fundraise for) but decided that that, while being a necessary, noble, and effective organization, is only a bandaid solution to much larger issues.
Several months earlier I had participated in a training in mediation. This was mainly a workshop in family and personal relationship mediation, yet the concepts are easily applicable on a much larger scale and in a different context, especially with more training. Thus, I have decided that the "direction" I want my life to go is International Conflict Mediation. I want to sit powerful African warlords at a table next to UN negotiators and dictatorial presidents and mediate their claims and needs to reach a peaceful settlement... But how am I supposed to get there?
I spoke to a professor and advisor and he suggested law school with a concentration in international law... and that is one possibility. Another is graduate school in peace and conflict studies, human rights studies, international affairs... etc.
I feel as though I am at the edge of an olympic swimming pool and I cannot decide which lane to jump into!
So, I continue to poke along... writing, researching, getting thoroughly involved in my thesis on Human Rights in Europe... and frivolously taking time for myself! I think that the right 'lane' will show itself eventually... maybe I'll poke a toe in and see which one has the warmest water?
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