It's been a few days since I returned home to the US from Italy, and I've been reflecting on my Leadership in Action experience. Working with the staff of the center and its young residents has taught me so much about the experiences of young migrants and the support that helps them succeed. 

It's been especially amazing to have an opportunity to work directly in support of a cause that is important to me, and to bridge the gap between research and action. Not only did my Laidlaw research from last summer focus on immigration to Italy, but research I conducted for an internship during my semester abroad in Rome was specifically centered on policy that supports unaccompanied foreign minors. As someone who aspires to a career in public policy research and development, it's been really gratifying to see both sides of the policy coin, so to speak. 

My Laidlaw experience has reaffirmed my desire to build a career that uses an economic perspective to create policies that efficiently and effectively solve social problems and contribute to the public good. Specifically, it's been really fascinating to learn about job training programs for unaccompanied minors and how important employment is in their journeys to building independent lives in Italy. As I return to Barnard and continue studying economics, I've been inspired to focus on labor economics and how government policy influences the availability of economic opportunity and mobility. 

@Barnard College