2016 Entering Class Profiles

Susanne Jaworski, 2018, Germany

Why Fletcher: Prior to coming to Fletcher, I was working for a NGO in Jordan that provided humanitarian assistance to those affected by the Syrian conflict. When the international media shed light on the devastating living conditions in Madaya, a besieged Syrian village that had been cut off from food and medical supplies for months, I painfully realized that even the worst human suffering eventually has to yield political considerations. I decided that in my future career, I do not want to be limited to treating the symptoms of conflict, but would rather focus on resolving its underlying causes. Fletcher's multidisciplinary curriculum, its experienced staff, and diverse student body provide exactly the environment I was looking for to acquire the necessary skills to solve these problems. My concentrations in development economics and conflict resolution provide me with a more systematic understanding of the political, socioeconomic, legal, and cultural factors that drive conflicts around the world. At Fletcher, I feel like I have come to a place where the principles of idealism and optimism are encouraged, and students are equipped with the pragmatic skills necessary to make real changes in the world.

On Fletcher’s Career Services: Fletcher puts a lot of emphasis on tying the coursework to professional resources that will give you a head start into your future career. For example, the Office of Career Services sponsors a Professional Development Program, career trips, workshops, and employer information sessions. All of these opportunities have helped me to narrow down at an early stage potential jobs, from my initial feelings of being interested in pretty much everything to a more realistic picture of the benefits, requirements, and drawbacks of different work areas.