Intern Spotlight: Sehar Jamal
Learning Life’s student interns this fall 2019 are, among other things, supporting our Family Diplomacy Initiative (FDI), planning for the World Affairs Pipeline, and world learning excursions with our children in Washington DC. Sehar Jamal, interviewed below, has thus far been helping with FDI planning, world learning excursions, plus research on funding and else.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Maryland, but spent most of my childhood growing up in a small town in Georgia, before moving back up to the DMV (DC-MD-VA) area.
What school do you attend, and what is your year and major there?
I am a junior at George Mason University studying government and international politics with a concentration in international relations.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy going out to eat with friends given the diversity of restaurants in the Northern Virginia area. I especially like Mexican and Middle Eastern food. I also love having days in where I can throw on a face mask and binge-watch some Netflix. How to Get Away with Murder and Bates Motel are two must-watch series!
Is there a life experience you have had that has particularly shaped you thus far? If so, what is it, and how has it shaped you?
One of the most formative moments in my life was when I moved from a small, rural town in Georgia to Northern Virginia, an area known for its diversity. As a child of immigrants, I have always been the “diverse” one, especially when it came to living in the south. Growing up in Georgia at such a young age, from 6 to 12, I felt like I had to hide a lot of my heritage to fit in, and I grew up very sheltered and insecure about my roots. When I came to Northern Virginia, it was the complete opposite: diversity was seen as a good thing. The transition from two starkly different environments pushed me to figure out who I was, and helped shape me into the person I am today, comfortable being Pakistani-American.
What are your career plans?
After I earn a degree in Government and International Politics, I hope to go to law school. I’m interested in practicing human rights law or civil rights law, especially with the immigration crisis going on at the moment.
Why did you choose to intern with Learning Life?
As a student focusing on international relations, the ability to help an organization whose goal is to expose kids and families to the wider world attracted me. As technology develops and the world becomes smaller, it is incredibly important to expose kids to different ideas and cultures in order to foster a more understanding and diverse world. With Learning Life, I get the opportunity to educate and help kids experience the wider world, creating better global citizens in the long run.
What is the most beautiful place you have seen on Earth, and why is it so beautiful?
I’ve always wanted to visit Spain. Throughout middle and high school all of my social studies projects were about Spain: the place, the people, the language. There was something so appealing and beautiful about it to me. In March this year, I finally got the opportunity to visit Barcelona, and standing on top of Montjuïc Mountain with my family and being able to watch the city of Barcelona stretch out into the sea as the sun set was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.