Joining the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia was one of the best decisions I have made in college. The college has provided me with a community like no other, making an almost 40,000-student school feel small. Nearly every SPIA class I take, or related club event I attend has at least one familiar face, and there is always someone I can turn to when I need advice or inspiration. The majority of passions I discovered while at UGA were introduced to me by fellow SPIA students.
One of my favorite activities here is leading a Sustainability Policy Team with Arch Policy Institute (API), a student-run, non-partisan think tank. I was introduced to this organization by an International Affairs student, who told me about all of the inspired, friendly people she knows who are active API participants. Without SPIA connecting us, I would never have discovered that I am passionate about policy writing and research. I have also started an internship with the District Attorney’s Office in Athens this semester. While I found this internship independently, the community of SPIA students working there is impressive. I now have a viable resource for advice related to my coursework and internship duties.
In addition to the community that comes with joining SPIA, a new perspective can be applied to other courses, majors, minors, jobs, etc. Along with my major in Political Science, I am studying Economics with an emphasis on public policy. The theory and methodology courses I have taken within SPIA have greatly enhanced my understanding of economics courses. I have also applied this more abstract thought process to my research course, which I do under the Department of Geography. The skills and way of seeing the world that one develops within the School of Public and International Affairs translate easily into almost every aspect of student life, and they provide one with the ability to think in a more complex way. I would not give up my time in SPIA for anything, and I recommend it to any student considering joining.
-Ashlyn Goode; SPIA Ambassador
