Rosemary Sebestyen, Class of 2009

1. Where do you work? Briefly, what does it entail?
   I work for Arizona PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) as a Campus Organizer. I'm working to establish a new chapter of ArizonaPIRG at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. As an organizer, I teach students how to make an impact on a variety of social issues. Our top campaigns nationwide include climate change, consumer protection, public transit, higher ed. and textbook affordability, and hunger and homelessness.
   
   Since I'm working with students to establish a chapter, my jobs entails having a lot of meetings! On a weekly basis, I run trainings with my students to develop their leadership skills, teach them how to run grassroots campaigns, build coalitions, and work with the media.
   
   
2. What aspects of your job do you enjoy most? Find most challenging?
   I LOVE my job. I love that I am giving students the opportunity to be involved in the democratic process and influence policy at the grassroots level. It's fun to work with students that care about issues and yearn to be part of solutions.
   
   That said, it's really tough. Starting from the ground up, working to build something from nothing- in a tight-knit mountain town that is located hours and hours away from any place I've ever called home.
   
   
3. How does your job relate to what you studied at Illinois Wesleyan?
   It's definitely exciting to have a job that fits into what I studied at Illinois Wesleyan. My major was Political Science with a minor in Env. Studies and with my job I get to work with students to find solutions at the local, state, and national level- whether it's having an event to educate others, or drawing a lot of media attention to an issue.
   
   
4. Has your job given you any insight into what you would like to do with the rest of your career?
   My career is still unknown. I would like to pursue environmental policy or international law in law school or grad school, but I would like to get more experience in the "real world" before making that kind of time and financial commitment.
   
   
5. What advice, if any, would you give to Political Science majors looking for a job upon graduation?
   My advice to graduating seniors is to apply to everything and go to as many interviews as possible, even if it's not your dream job. The application and interview process gets easier and it's important to get as much practice as you can. This way, hopefully you will have a few options when you graduate! Best of luck to everyone, and it's not impossible to get a great job- even in this economy!