USA: Ekaan Ahmad

Program: Wisconsin in Washington, Spring

Ekaan’s Major: Political Science

What is your advice for someone considering your program?

My advice would be for people to ask questions and be ready to network. At your internship or at other events don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand something. I promise no one will judge and you’ll be better off learning more because of them.

In terms of networking, take advantage of UW alumni in the area. They all have a vested interest in seeing the program succeed and are more than willing to help in terms of advice or even with helping pursue further opportunities.

What is your most memorable experience from your program?

My most memorable experience in the program was visiting the Lincoln Memorial during the night. My cohort went as a group and we got to see the Lincoln Memorial at night under the full moon.

How did your identities impact your experience? What advice would you give to students with similar identities who are considering a similar experience?

As a Pakistani and Muslim American, Washington DC is much different than Madison and campus. As much as Madison is inclusive and open to other cultures, it is still not as diverse as DC. Here in DC, there is a lot more representation of my culture and people that look like me. I did fear at first that I may not fit in, but there are lots of people just like me here, even more so than Madison.