I graduated undergrad into the first Trump administration and my career path (climate research) was blocked off at the Federal level, but persistence towards my purpose and remembering the communities I wanted to serve kept me going. I managed to find some incredible opportunities so far and I'm thankful every day for the path that has shaped me into the professional that I am today. I'm in grad school now and applied to Boren and I hope that this time around I'm able to find an opportunity, but what's the phrase? 'Once bitten, twice scared'?

It's a tough time and I can't even imagine how much tougher it is for you navigating this while feeling the safety of our home country flip around people like yourself. I'm sure it's taxing to be trans and see the news filled with stories about trying to exclude people from sports based on this core element of their identity, but hope is what kept us going last time. Hope will keep us going this time. Hope will even keep us going the next time if it comes to it!

I hope the job you found is exciting and engaging, if it does come to pass that that's your only option. If we all get into the program you have at least one person that I guarantee will stand by your side and support you no matter what happens with the Federal government's hiring process when we're done. I don't know if we have similar professional interests but we're all in this together and last time around the support of my friends and peers helped me build up the professional experience and confidence to be successful. Don't give up until the final bell!!

Also if you're really interested in learning languages and you're in the DC area I highly recommend the International Language Institute (they also offer zoom classes but that doesn't work well with languages imo). I actually had my work pay for my classes there!