Spotlight: Sarah Platts

For many, September 11 was a life altering, mind shifting force. For Sarah, her focus would change from a dance major to political science, becoming fluent in Spanish after a year in Madrid and writing her honors thesis on the Darfur conflict. Now in Washington, after a summer internship at the National Defense University's Institute for National Strategic Studies as a Research Intern on the Western Hemisphere Team, Sarah is applying for an Officer Commission with the US Navy.

Name: Sarah Platts
Major: Political Science (just graduated in June!!)
Hometown: San Jose, California
Internship Location: National Defense University's Institute for National Strategic Studies

I just graduated from UC Irvine this past June and two days later, boarded a plane (with a one-way ticket) to Washington, D.C. I started out at UCI as a dance major, but having just lived through the horrors of September 11th (and after too many years and hours of dancing in a company), I decided I wanted to study something that could lead me to a job working on national security or foreign affairs. I spent a year in Madrid, Spain as a junior and came back fluent in Spanish and ready to take on the world! So, I dedicated my senior year to finishing up my major, writing my senior honors thesis on the Darfur conflict, and planning my big escape to Washington, D.C. Now I am here in Washington working at the National Defense University's Institute for National Strategic Studies as a Research Intern on the Western Hemisphere Team (focusing on Latin America). My research focus, for now, is on Brazil's Defense Approach and what it means for U.S. security and security in the region. Along with reading and analyzing Brazilian Defense, I also translate publications/articles written here at NDU from English into Spanish and stay current with the latest news coming out of both the American media and the Latin American media. Also, as a Research Intern I attend events throughout Washington, D.C. that have to do with Latin America, the Western Hemisphere, or security in the region. Recently I represented NDU at the inauguration of the new Embassy of El Salvador and got to meet the president of the country, President Saca (and I even got to go back and take a picture with him!!). Other events I attend take place at places like the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Woodrow Wilson Center, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, to name a few. After attending events I write memos/briefings to give to my supervisor. I love working at INSS because they never ask me to make coffee and I have never once touched the copy machine. It is hands on, engaging, intellectually stimulating and FUN! After my internship I plan to remain in the D.C. area and apply for U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School (OCS) where I would spend 13 weeks in “boot camp” before being commissioned as an officer.