[ACE 199 Experiential Study Tour to Washington, DC | Spring Break 2014]

Today was action-packed day #2 in Washington DC! We started off the morning bright and early with an excellent breakfast and presentation provided by CropLife America. It was great to hear from an Illinois alumnus, Jay Vroom, the current President and CEO and his staff. Their communications director spoke to us about their growing social media presence, which our generation can relate to.

[ACE 199 Experiential Study Tour to Washington, DC | Spring Break 2014]

With chattering teeth and white breath, we stepped on the endless Dupont Circle escalator to the bowels of the DC Metro. The Metro scanners seemed foreign to our virgin eyes, but, with help, we prevailed with minor setbacks. The red-line screeched to halt near us--the wind messing our perfectly parted hair.  The angst set deep when confronted with the notion that the people we would be meeting with this week, the leaders in DC, could have the potential to shape our careers in agricultural leadership.

In my experience, it is sometimes not what you know, but who you know which gets you to interviews and jobs offers. Not to say that your degree or experiences are not important, but so often, it is your network of contacts that open the door for you at all. Networking is an essential business skill which professionals, especially those fresh out of college, should utilize and take advantage of.

Last semester I had the incredible opportunity to live and work in our nation’s capitol. To say an internship in Washington D.C. is invaluable is an understatement. There is nothing comparable to being where all of the action takes place concerning our entire country. I was able to see the hustle and bustle of Capitol Hill on a daily basis.

Annie and Nikky enjoying our “family lunch” together of cassava and rice. Lunches are usually prepared by the dorm matron, Ms. Gifty.

As a junior in Financial Planning, I have been becoming more invested and involved in my area of study. One of the best things I have done to achieve this is to become more involved in activities on campus. 

They always say your college years fly by, which I could not agree more sitting here as a senior. It’s amazing to look back at all of the opportunities that I’ve had here in the ACE department and how much I’ve grown because of my experiences here. 

My name is Rachel Ruiting Liang, and I am now a sophomore in Agricultural, Consumer Economics with concentration in Policy，International Trade and Development，and also double major in Food Science and Human Nutrition and minor in business.

On the second week of January, three students from the University of Illinois started their journey for a semester at Njala University in Sierra Leone. Cortney, Nicki and Annie joined the on going winter break course in country.

Tuesday January 14, 2014