Anthropology goes to London
Rebecca Goldman '02 has decided to take her four years of education from Brandeis overseas to London this summer. After completing two majors, Anthropology (ANTH) and Sociology (SOC) , as well as the Women's Studies program( WMNS), this summer, she is going to London, where she will do an internship and attend graduate school.The internship is at the American Embassy in London. As an intern, she will be working at the public affairs and diplomacy office. She will work with American diplomats for at least the summer. She would not divulge too much information about the details of the job because security is an issue, but the general nature of the job will be communicating with the international public about America's aims in the world. She will be educating the British about American policy. As well, she will be working with journalists, coordinating and planning American diplomatic events, and more things of which she is unsure about details. Goldman was informed of the internship opportunity through the state department. She said she realized she was interested in diplomacy when she studying abroad in Stockholm, where she met a girl who had a similar type of internship in Sweden.In addition to Sweden, she has traveled all over Europe and the Middle East. She said her passion for travel added to her desire to go to Europe after graduating from Brandeis. As for the application process to become an intern at the American Embassy in London, she described it as long and competitive. Over 25,000 students applied for 800 available internships. She said she is not sure what exactly gave her the edge to be selected over other candidates. "I'm sure everyone who applied was qualified. The other people working at embassies are from top schools in the country," Goldman said.But, she said she did feel that if something did give her the edge over her peers it would be her extensive experience studying and traveling abroad.Once this summer ends, Goldman will be attending University College London (UCL) to abtain her Masters of Science in Development and Planning with a specialization in Social Development practice. This is a full 12-month program.Goldman applied to both the graduate school and the internship simultaneously. She said she chose UCL because she wanted an English program in an English speaking country. English graduate programs are not as common abroad as English study abroad programs are. Also, the embassy requires that the interns be continuing with their schooling. "I really wanted to be abroad again," Goldman said. Sweden was her first choice location, but she said they were not accepting interns. She had a choice between Edinborough and London, but chose London because it is one of the most prestigious programs in the world. Goldman is excited to be doing what she likes. She did not know what she wanted to major in when she arrived at Brandeis four years ago. She took Introduction to Anthropology and really liked it, so she continued to take more courses on the subject. "I like it because I like to study other cultures and you can do that in many different ways (in anthropology)," Goldman said. Goldman said her experiences after graduation in London will give her the opportunity to study anthropology.Goldman credits Professor Sarah Lamb (ANTH) to the fact that she acquired a keen interest in anthropology. "She is an excellent professor. She is the one that got me interested in Anthroplogy. She cares about her students, and it shows, both inside and out of the classroom," Goldman said.Lamb described Goldman. "She is very hard-working, ambitious, and self-confident. She throws herself into her projects with gusto, motivation, perseverance. She aims in her life and academic work to move beyond ethnocentrism to reach a true understanding of and respect for other people. These qualities will make her an excellent ambassador, and intern at the American Embassy in London."Goldman also described Professor Jyl Lynn Felman (WMNS) as one of her most influential professors at Brandeis. "She is by far the best professor I ever had. She is inspirational and helps you look at the world in a new way," Goldman said.Goldman said she has managed to keep herself busy outside her academic studies, participating in Orientation and managing the swim team.Although she said enjoyed these extra-curricular activities, she said she does not consider them essential to her Brandeis education. She said that her academic opportunities and the friendships that she has made were things more important to her Brandeis experience.Currently she is working for the Womens Studies Resource Center (WSRC), organizing a conference about journalists and scholars. In addition, she is working on how to better facilitate discussion on work-family issues. She is also spending much of her time finishing her thesis, a study of muslim veiling practices.Goldman leaves this advice to underclassmen. "Major in what you enjoy, not what you think is expected of you. If you follow your interests you will be a lot happier at Brandeis," she said.