A current Bachelor of Arts student and SUPERSTAR editor of girledworld’s upcoming book, You Are Not Your Face, Sarah Ward-Ambler shares her experiences and wisdom as a young woman paving a pathway in the world of policy making.
Guest Blog By Sarah Ward-Amber
“Hi everyone! I’m Sarah Ward-Ambler and I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne, majoring in Politics and International Relations, and History.”
My pathway from Arts to Politics
“I’ve always been incredibly interested in the power structures that underpin our society, and the reasons behind the policy and law as they exist today.
When I started my Arts Degree, I was really unsure of where I wanted it to take me. Mainly I was looking for a social, intellectual and personal challenge from a transition into University and residential College.
I was also really excited to spend the next three years growing and developing myself, regardless of what came in my life and career pathway after university.
I started my Arts Degree on a very broad path. For my first year and a half, I focused on Philosophy and Art History, hoping these would be my majors. Sitting in lectures felt like watching a Ted Talk that you never want to end, and tutorials were energising conversations full of intellectual rigour and emotional drive!
Coffee Break on campus at the University of Melbourne
In fact, I was loving being at Uni so much that I started to look at what would be required of me to complete a Masters after my Arts degree, and how this might translate into a career post-graduation.
Upon looking at the subject breakdowns of Masters courses, I realised that one of the most important things in my chosen career pathway is the ability to make an impact on the world, and to make tangible, progressive change. And this is what led me to reconsider the path of my Arts degree, and change my majors to Politics and International Relations and History.
After this move, I felt actively involved in the path my university course was taking. Class discussion mirrored one I could see myself having in a career, and the people around me had similar visions to me about where they wanted to end up.
I was, and still am as I finish my third year, actively excited about my course and the pathway it could take me in the future! “
My passion for real-world global change
“What I love most about my field is the real-life application that I can see in my studies. My specialisation of Cold War Asia as it relates to US policy has real-world ramifications with legacies that are evident to this day. Through learning about the Cold War conflicts in Korea and Vietnam and how it has shaped the global arena, my knowledge and experience of the countries’ current political operations are enriched.
I also love that this pathway opens me up to so many options that can enact real, noticeable change in Australia, and the world. Plus, this is a field that is so broad and diverse that my career could naturally evolve and allow me to live anywhere.
The bonus is that the people I’ve come across in my course are smart, hard-working, inspired and so motivating to talk to! They’re passionate about their field and are endlessly supportive in helping me get started in policy.”
So where am I headed next?
“After my graduation, I’m looking at completing either a Masters of International Development or a Masters of International Relations. I’m also hoping to get some work experience in big NGO’s such as the Red Cross, Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International, plus I will also be applying for internships in the State and Federal governments in Australia. I am currently building a portfolio of policy writing pieces, and researching the type of graduate jobs that would align with what I want from the early years of my career!”
Tips for anyone thinking about a career pathway into policy and politics
1: Be thoughtful and considerate in your opinions
Try to consume news and academic publications that don’t necessarily align with your natural political stance. Being able to do well in these areas isn’t necessarily about whether you can make the best argument, but about how well you can consider all evidence and make a reasonable judgment from it.
2: Start conversations
Try and start conversations with your friends and family about things that you’re interested in. This is an excellent way to learn and challenge your opinions, and you never know what types of insights into politics or policy they can let you in on!
3: Just start!
It’s ok if you don’t know what you’re interested in, or which career pathway you want to take. But the best way to learn is to start exploring by reading, watching, learning and talking to people from a diverse range of fields!