Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women in STEM Can Do it All

This January I was lucky enough to be able to attend the PLEN Women in STEM Policy seminar. The experience was like nothing I have ever had. Not only did I get to meet a bunch of amazing young women in the STEM field, but I also…

What About a Career in Public Policy?

I was educated in a private school, and most of the people I knew back then now resemble the definition of success. As I am already 27, I follow my old colleagues opening their own businesses, getting promotions within big companies, or becoming shareholders in…

My PLEN Internship: Squashing Sexism and My Inherent Fear of Setting Goals

I’m an intern at PLEN for the 2018 Spring semester. Last semester, I found myself scavenging for an internship that would offer me the ability to work in an office setting while following an…

Nerves are Like Gravity: When They go up, They Always Come Down

When I first entered college, I thought I had my whole life planned out. I was at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania and majoring in neuroscience and global health studies. After my undergraduate studies, I…

Pushing Out of my Comfort Zone at PLEN

For my networking experience, I attended the PLEN (Public Leadership Education Network) Women and Congress seminar. I learned about the PLEN seminars from my American Government professor during my first year. From then on, it was not a question of if I would…

Magic on Capitol Hill: A Testament to My Love for Washington, D. C.

I first heard about PLEN from an email sent to the Women’s Resource Center at my university, where I work as a Feminist Peer Educator. As someone whose relationship with politics turned into a love affair after…

STEM Policy: It Is More Non-Linear Than You Think

I learned about the PLEN seminar from various classmates and professors. At first, I saw PLEN flyers posted all over the school and emails were sent out regularly. Initially, I was not too keen on attending, but my classmates continued to talk…

PLEN Taught Me That It’s Okay to Have Seven Careers