Monica Davis, ’02, Foreign Service Officer
Monica Davis, W&M CLST major ’02, talks about life in the Foreign Service and offers tips for those interested in careers in diplomacy.
Can you tell us a little bit about your experience at William & 玛丽? What drew you to
Classical Studies?
I graduated in 2002 from William & 玛丽 and loved my experience on campus, as well as my junior year in Athens at the College Year in Athens program. I was originally drawn to classics because my high school in Lexington, Virginia had such a strong Latin program. Our teacher was very dynamic, and our high school class went to Italy and Greece in junior year to visit different ancient sites. It was one of my first times abroad, and I fell in love with traveling and learning about other cultures. After that, even though I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after graduating, I decided to major in classics at William & 玛丽. I then went on to pursue an MA in International Relations at the University of Tübingen in Germany.
What are you doing now and what is your favorite thing about your job?
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How has your experience studying the ancient world helped you in your career?
It has helped me in many ways that I didn’t really realize at first, but now looking back, I am deeply thankful certainly of the general liberal arts education I gained from my time at William & 玛丽. In particular, studying the ancient world has greatly helped me learn new languages. Without my Latin and Greek background, it would not have been so easy to learn Spanish or Czech. Also, my coursework strengthened my critical thinking and writing skills which I have to use every day in my job. I am also hoping one day to be posted to Italy or Greece so that I can apply this knowledge more directly in country!
More broadly, how has that experience shaped you as a person?
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What advice would you give a student who is interested in your field?
I took the Foreign Service Officer Test in 2005 (and didn’t pass) and then again in 2012 (and passed). Don’t give up if you take the test and don’t pass the first time! Many people take this difficult test multiple times. If you are interested in living abroad and learning new languages, I would certainly recommend applying for an internship at the State Department (or doing an internship in general with any organization working on international affairs). We offer amazing opportunities to work in both DC and abroad at our Embassies and Consulates. And unlike when I did an internship at the State Department, they are now paid! An internship can really help you to see if the field is something you are interested in pursuing long-term. Check them out at: https://careers.state.gov/interns-fellows/student-internship-program/
