Meet Emma Marchant! She hopes to one day work on Capital Hill.
Describe yourself and why you wanted to attend the PLEN Conference:
As a junior in sociology major, I started to think about what I wanted to do with my degree. Going to law school in order to purse a career in public policy was one option that I was seriously considering. I thought that going to the PLEN Conference would help me to solidify what career path would be right for me. After attending the conference, I feel much more confident in my future and feel that I have learned the skills needed to succeed in a legal profession in D.C.
Describe your favorite parts of the conference:
My favorite part of the conference was learning about all the various paths that these women took to get to the position they are currently at. Hearing about all the various jobs that one could have in the beautiful city of D.C. was inspiring and eye-opening. There is more then just being a criminal lawyer, although there is nothing wrong with that. A law degree can open doors into politics, advocacy, and various other avenues, but getting your foot in the door into something you are passionate about it just as important. Through this conference, I learned about careers that I might want to pursue in the future and this experience was my favorite part of the conference.
Highlight a speaker or a job site you visited:
All the speakers were inspirational, but Kathlee Facchiano was my favorite. As a Tulane graduate, her words touched me and made me feel confident in my ability to pursue my dreams. Mrs. Facchiano moved to D.C. without a job and worked her way up through constant effort to start a career on Capital Hill. Her bravery was one aspect of the whole experience that has truly stuck with me.
Detail what you learned that you hope to never forget:
Although the PLEN Conference was an educational conference, the one thing I learned that I hope to never forget is to have confidence. Being a woman in a man dominated world can be daunting, but you must be confident in your ability because you are an amazing, worthy individual that has a lot to offer to the world.
Why should other students attend a PLEN conference?
Other students should attend a PLEN Conference, not only to learn about all the opportunities that are out there, but also to gain the confidence that they can achieve their goals.
Does this sound like something you might be interested in? Tulane undergraduate students can apply to NCI for funding to attend PLEN conferences. Email Betsy Lopez at elopez@tulane.edu for more information.
Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.