Actually, I never thought about it! I didn't think a lot about my future when I was in school; I've never been one to plan ahead too much. But after I graduated from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, I took the Foreign Service exam and realized that Georgetown had been preparing me to pass it all along. Once I joined, I realized I fit there.

I know this is a high priority for Secretary Blinken, and State is bringing on more diverse staff every year.

U.S. government officials are the face of our country abroad, so it's important that we represent America's diverse population. Inside our embassies, diplomats follow U.S. laws and regulations, including equal treatment of all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identify), national origin, ethnicity, age, and disability. Outside our embassies, however, we often work in societies where these categories are not treated equally. I've faced such challenges my whole career, as a woman and a person of color. On the other hand, in every country I've served, people from the local population want to work at the U.S. embassy precisely because of what America stands for and the protections we provide.

I also believe an increasingly diverse work force will bring different approaches to the challenges the U.S. faces. The world is growing more complicated by the day and diplomacy isn't getting any easier. We need the ability to look at the issues we face in new and different ways. When I joined the Foreign Service, all the new officers, including myself, were international relations majors in college. Now, State seeks to attract officers from all walks of life.

Two big obstacles that stand out to me are the Israel-Palestine conflict and Iran's behavior in the region. The United States can play a role in resolving both, but it needs to constantly evaluate the facts on the ground and its own actions to ensure that role is constructive.

We are examining the fundamental role of the U.S. in the world: Should it intervene in the affairs of other countries? Should it stay out of world events? Or is there a balance and, if so, what factors should determine that balance? There are no easy answers, I'm afraid. The class is focused on the Middle East because that's where my experience lies, but we could equally look at our involvement in Ukraine and Afghanistan through this lens.

If nothing else, I hope the students come away with a deeper understanding of the challenges the U.S. faces in making foreign policy, even with its economic, cultural, and military advantages. I also hope the students come away with a recognition that there are true heroes in the U.S. government working on these problems every day. They don't do it for personal recognition but to try to make the world a better place. It may sound corny, but I can't think of a better life purpose.