Class of 2012 Student Profiles

Elana Fiekowsky , 2012, United States

How I plan to use my experience at Fletcher to make a difference in the world: I have been working abroad for the past five years, and although Fletcher is a nice break from the daily power outages and malaria scares of Africa and South East Asia, I cannot wait to get back into the field.  After Fletcher, I plan to go back to South East Asia and apply the skills and perspectives I have learned to technical and vocational education projects. I know that after receiving my MALD, I will be able to make a larger contribution to educational development through increased technical skills and better leadership and mediation skills. Also, with Fletcher's vast alumni network, I know that there will be a fellow Fletcher alumnus there to greet me in whichever city I land.

How my experience at Fletcher has changed the way I look at the world: Being at Fletcher has changed the way that I look at the world and analyze international politics. I no longer feel removed from the war in Afghanistan or the peace process in the Middle East. I have classmates from all over the globe who have worked with various governments or organizations and who can share their personal perspective on any international news story I read.  This helps me analyze international politics in a whole new way - I discuss current events with people who have worked on these issues, I read different news sources, and I have the opportunity to attend panels and lectures led by the very people who are in the thick of it all. Since coming to Fletcher, the world has become a much smaller place.