Stephanie Dahle<\/h2>\nWhat do you do for work?\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n
I\u2019m an editor for a think tank, which means that I get to work with scholars to form topics and provide feedback as they write long-form papers focused on the Middle East. Technically, my title is \u201cpublication manager,\u201d so in addition to working on these long-term projects, I also work on our center\u2019s outreach– things like e-newsletters, marketing, helping with our website.\u00a0 It takes a bit of neurosis to argue over comma placement (I\u2019m a fan of the Oxford comma), and to make sure footnotes are absolutely right, but I enjoy polishing work into an amazing publication. I also get to be a fly on the wall to discussions about current events and foreign policy. That\u2019s a priceless benefit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In Salalah, Oman. Spending the day with a frankincense harvester.<\/p><\/div>\n I continue to take Arabic classes (a never-ending process), and I write (currently I\u2019m working on a lifestyle blog<\/a> exploring ideas through the lens of modern feminism.). I also like to travel– and I\u2019m lucky that I get five weeks of vacation every year–\u00a0 so I am constantly planning trips I\u2019d like to take (currently on the docket for 2014 is Qatar, Oman, Mexico, and the UK).<\/p>\n Top of Mt. Sinai, Egypt.<\/p><\/div>\n I also try to be involved in whatever community I\u2019m currently living in. I was just appointed to serve as a commissioner for my Advisory Neighborhood Commission<\/a>, a unique branch of Washington, D.C.\u2019s government. I am also on the board of our local dog park. I\u2019ve met a ton of new people through the process, and– wherever I\u2019m living– I love being a part of a neighborhood.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I worked. Hard.<\/p>\n As a New Yorker, this was one of my favorite places in the city: the Ming Scholar’s retreat tucked inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art.<\/p><\/div>\n Port in Muscat, Oman<\/p><\/div>\n At NYU, I double majored (in Journalism, and History) and minored (in Middle East Studies). I worked the entire time, as a tutor, as a Resident Assistant, and had paid internships with a business author<\/a> and at ABC News<\/a>. After college, I worked as a journalist at Forbes<\/a>, which was a dream job and excellent experience. I knew that I wanted to shift my focus more towards my interest in the Middle East, so I took Arabic classes at night and applied for a Fulbright grant, which I received in 2010. I spent a year in the region: living in Egypt, and the Sultanate of Oman before, during, and after the Arab Spring. I did a research project and studied Arabic. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that has paid dividends in my life professionally– and personally (I met my husband<\/a> in Oman).<\/p>\n Stunning landscape in Salalah, Oman. Met stunning husband in Oman, too.<\/p><\/div>\n Stephanie at Tulun Mosque (Did you plan to have your outfit match the decor?)<\/p><\/div>\n You\u2019ve got to want to have these experiences, and work relentlessly to make them a reality. Now, I keep a list of short, medium, and long-term goals on my refrigerator. It\u2019s great to be reminded daily of what I am striving towards.<\/p>\n I\u2019m crossing dreams off my \u201cto do\u201d list, and having a lot of fun in the process. Living in places like New York City, Cairo, and Muscat were incredible experiences and I\u2019m no longer fazed by the idea of starting over in a new place by myself.<\/p>\n I\u2019m also really proud of the fact I was finally able to adopt a dog<\/a>. It was a process– we had to find a pet-friendly apartment and I had a \u201cfuture puppy\u201d fund in our savings account for a long time– but I\u2019m so glad we brought him home. He has brought so much laughter and joy!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Four pieces of advice I always give my interns:<\/p>\n –Simply put, you\u2019ve got to learn how to get stuff done. No matter how intimated you are, or how overqualified you think you are. No one cares about excuses. You\u2019ve got to learn to roll with the punches and move on. You may not ever be the smartest\/wealthiest\/prettiest person in a room, but you can always be the hardest worker. Never say something \u201cisn\u2019t my job\u201d– because doing those menial tasks can be used as leverage into other opportunities.<\/p>\n Street signs in the Kurdish region of Iraq. I was there to help with a multimedia course for student journalists.<\/p><\/div>\n –Set up a budget. Now. Don\u2019t live your life in debt, or you\u2019ll miss out on a lot of opportunities. Being frugal can be fun in your 20s, especially if you\u2019re laying the foundation for a secure future. Once you set up an emergency fund, start an \u201copportunity fund\u201d as well. That way, if you get a last-minute travel deal, or stumble upon a class you\u2019d like to take, you can do it without any sort of guilt (or debt!).<\/p>\n –This may sound a bit New Age, but find out what nourishes your soul, respect that it changes as you go through life\u2019s transitions. It can be scenic drives (a favorite of mine when I lived in Oman) or it can be long walks (something I loved to do in New York) or yoga sessions (my current favorite). Recognize the things you do that leave you feeling rested, and make sure to do them. In Ghana, someone told me that they have a phrase that roughly translates as \u201cAmericans have their watches, but we have the time.\u201d Give yourself time to relax. My British husband is always reminding me that Americans aren\u2019t taught or encouraged to relax like they are– and to stop constantly working.<\/p>\n –Finally, give yourself grace to make mistakes. Learn from them, and move on.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Working for a think tank sounds pretty cool, especially the Brookings Institution. So let’s meet Stephanie, who not only helps them think in the tank, but helps them write in the tank, too. \u00a0No.. not that kind of tank….. \u00a0No, not that kind, either…. \u00a0Just read on….. Stephanie Dahle What do you do for work?\u00a0 I\u2019m an editor for … Continue Reading ![\"25847\"](\"https:\/\/carpecollege.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/25847.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>What do you do for play or enrichment?<\/b><\/h4>\n
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How did you prepare for your career\/life so far?<\/b><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>What are you proud of?\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n
What advice do you have for young(er) people as they prepare to launch themselves into the adult world? <\/b><\/h4>\n
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