Interview by Junhui Fitch
T.J. ‘s journey in international studies began with an inspirational geography teacher in high school. After being assigned to learn the history and culture of Serbia, he became very interested in languages and in connecting with people around the world.
As a student at Baylor University, T.J. majored in international studies to pursue his passion for foreign languages and culture. He described IST students and alumni as a group that thinks differently from others, but bond easily with each other because of similar career interests and focus. He also believes the program is something that has differentiated him in interviews, and noted that the prestige of and appreciation for international studies is greater overseas.
In his professional life, T.J. has enjoyed travelling, connecting with people across cultures, and practising his foreign language skills. In fact, he considers the ability to use foreign languages one of the most important aspects of his work. T.J. currently speaks 5 languages: Spanish, French, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Arabic.
In the past few years, T.J. has switched from program and account management to cybersecurity. He expressed that he never imagined working in this field, and that he always imagined being placed in an embassy. At his current position, he advises public and private sector organisations throughout Latin America to improve their cybersecurity. He is able to leverage his experience in international relations to represent his company, and tailor their services to an international region. There are only a handful of tech manufacturers with the ability and expertise to protect high level companies and governments, so it is very competitive to break into the industry.
Some advice T.J. has for IST majors is to understand the importance of relationships and networking. He suggests for current students to get involved with intercultural organizations such as Model UN and Model Organization of American States (MOAS), and to start early on internship applications. For recent graduates, he recommends staying open to different career paths that you might not have previously considered. Additionally, he stressed the importance of networking with authenticity, in his words, “lots of people network and it’s obvious when they’re trying to get something, but when you’re focused on forging real friendships and professional relationships the outcome is always better!”
Read more about Model United Nations and Model Organization of American States programs at Baylor University.