International Student House Washington DC

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FlexiblISH

June 9, 2016 by Justice Shorter

The International Student House is an unflickering beacon of change. New residents cycle in twice a month and older residents shuffle out sporadically during each season as they continue to seek out professional success and personal satisfaction.

I recently began a new position as a Disability Integration Advisor for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA has an ideology about adaptability fittingly referred to as being FEMA Flexible. The concept is simple, be aware of your surroundings, adapt to changing circumstances and adopt the most effective and ethical methods of accomplishing a task.

My position requires me to deploy to emergency zones and disaster areas across the country in an effort to coordinate disability integration as it relates to programmatic access, physical access and effective communication.

As with any new endeavor, discouraging thoughts and droplets of self-doubt are attempting to seep into my psyche. Nevertheless, I’ve learned that freedom can often be found within the folds of flexibility. With this in mind, I am reassured of my ability to withstand whatever winds may blow my way. Being flexible merely means that I may need to bend in order to accomplish my goals without having to break away from my primary objectives completely.

As I prepare for my first deployment, I do so with a tad of trepidation and a tremendous amount of tenacity.  I know that I am capable of conquering the challenges I will surely encounter. I am also curious and admittedly a bit nervous about the changes to come. I intend to embark on this new journey with several of my most trusted companions – creativity, charisma, courage, patience, persistence and faith. This crew has never failed me before and I am looking forward to using each of them to succeed in disaster situations and any future endeavors…or personal crises…or unexpected emergencies.

 

Filed Under: Inside Look at ISH!

Justice Shorter

About Justice Shorter

Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
University/Internship: SIT Graduate Institute

Justice Shorter is presently pursuing her MA in Sustainable Development: International Policy & Management at SIT Graduate Institute. Her areas of specialization are policy advocacy, strategic communication and inclusion. She studied Community Development and Social Entrepreneurship in South Africa as well as Peace and Post-Conflict Reconciliation in Uganda & Rwanda. She graduated from Marquette University in 2012 where she earned a BA in Journalism with minors in Entrepreneurship as well as Justice & Peace Studies. Justice aspires to one day launch her own Strategic Communications firm designed to strengthen the policy advocacy efforts of marginalized populations (PWD, LGBTI, Religious Minorities etc.).

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International Student House of Washington, DC | 1825 R Street, NW | Washington, DC 20009

International Student House of Washington, DC is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 organization located near Dupont Circle in the heart of Washington, DC. Donations will help support our mission to provide an exceptional residential experience to a highly diverse international community of graduate students, interns and visiting scholars. The House promotes inter-cultural dialogue, encourages life-long connections, and fosters global citizenship.

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