Career Corner - A Chat with Joia Starks

Studying abroad is an amazing experience and can lead to various personal and professional opportunities. This blog is a representation of that for me. I would have never thought to become a Study Abroad/ International Programs Professional had I not wanted to learn another language and study abroad. I was not the only one who felt that way. Meet Joia Starks, a Foreign Services Officer and one of my travel inspirations. We studied abroad together in Guadalajara, Mexico after our junior year at Hampton University. Since then Joia continues to thrive in international settings. Today on KoMiSa’s World we will get a glimpse into Joia’s international profession, her experiences learning foreign languages, and studying/working abroad.

KoMiSa: What is your current position and what does your position entail?

Joia: I currently work for the Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer (aka, a diplomat) at the U.S. Embassy in Barbados.  This embassy is responsible for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean islands, which includes St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, and a few others.  It’s a broad mission with a big job and I am just one small but important part. 

KoMiSa: Is this your first experience working abroad?

Joia: No.  My first time working abroad was in 2007 when I taught English for a year in South Korea.

KoMiSa: What characteristics does one need to pursue a position such as yours?

Joia: My path to the Foreign Service was paved with perseverance!  People from all walks of life embark on a career in the Foreign Service so there are no required characteristics.  However, I was driven by my love for challenges, foreign languages and cultures, and a desire to give back to my country in a non-traditional way.  I think having strong interpersonal and communication skills are helpful, but these and many other traits comprise our diplomatic corps. 

KoMiSa: Have you studied abroad during your undergraduate and/or graduate school experience?

Joia: I studied abroad during both undergrad and grad school. During undergrad, I studied in Mexico and France and during grad school, I interned in South Korea. I spent 5 weeks each in Mexico and Paris and 2.5 months in South Korea. 

KoMiSa: What was your experience like?

Joia: Each experience was very different, but they were all eye-opening and exciting for me.  Some of the best times of my life have been spent abroad.  In Mexico, I got to live with a host family and my fellow classmate from Hampton University (Miss KoMiSa herself!).  This was a great introduction to living abroad because I already spoke the language and I had a built-in network because of my host family and friends.  When I decided to study in Paris, it was a bit more daunting. I spoke little French and I went through a different school and did not know anyone before arriving.  However, the school environment felt familiar so I adjusted quickly.  When I decided to go to Korea, I knew I wanted to push my limits personally and professionally by trying something totally different and unfamiliar.  It was scary at first, but once I “jumped” and made the commitment, I felt incredibly alive.

KoMiSa: How has studying abroad changed your life?  You as a person?  

Joia: Studying abroad has opened my eyes and stretched my mind to places, ideas, and people I never thought possible.  And there is plenty of room for more growth and development.  In fact, studying abroad is what led me to my current career as a diplomat.  The seeds were planted when I first traveled to Venezuela as a teen and my thirst for travel grew when I studied in Mexico.  As a person, travel really defines who I am.  It defines how I view the world and myself within that world.  It provides perspective that I could not have gotten any other way.  

KoMiSa: What is your experience like living/working in another country?  

Joia: I truly enjoy living and working in another country.  I like to travel, but sometimes, I just need more time to settle in and explore a place.  I interact with people and talk about life and history, find common ground and points of difference.  It gives me a rush.  And of course, you can do that while traveling, but living for an extended period of time provides an entirely different set of joys and challenges.  So far, life in Barbados has been wonderful.  There are minor bumps in the road, but I remind myself that I took up this career to have differing experiences from those back at home.  Nothing’s perfect anywhere, but I have learned to be happy in many different environments.  And so far, I have no regrets! 

KoMiSa: Do you speak any other languages?  If so, how many?

Joia: My language skills have deteriorated considerably because I do not use them enough, but I speak Spanish and some Korean.  I am hoping to learn French for my next assignment in the Foreign Service.  

KoMiSa: How has studying abroad impacted your language skills?

Joia: There is nothing better for language development than studying abroad and being immersed in the language.  When I returned from Mexico after 5 weeks, my skills were so advanced.  I found myself walking around Spanish Harlem and being able to have full conversations with people.  I was listening and understanding everything and it felt amazing.  Korean is quite challenging, but the fact that I could read and write fairly well also improved my speaking skills.  As I grew more confident, I noticed my language skills did as well.

KoMiSa:  How has speaking another language or your willingness to learn the native tongue of the country impacted your abroad experience?

Joia: Language is a sacred part of any society – it reveals so much about how we relate to each other, how we express our feelings, and how we live.  So, if your goal is really to understand any culture, you have to begin with understanding how its people communicate.  I have always been captivated by languages so whenever I have traveled, I attempted to learn some of the local language, even if it is just hello, please, and thank you.  It is surprising how receptive people become once you demonstrate some effort to know their culture.

KoMiSa: Do you have any advice for others who want to study/work abroad?

Joia: Everyone’s situation is different, but here are a few minor regrets I have about my path to studying/working abroad:

- Start early:  I wish I had started studying abroad in high school.  And if I could have studied abroad for longer periods during college, I would have spent a semester abroad or an entire summer.  I was so focused on working and making money that I missed valuable opportunities to create new experiences.  

- Step outside of your comfort zone:  My most enriching and enlightening experiences abroad have come from unexpected places (a French-African student in Paris, a homeless child in the Philippines, a whirlwind friend in Seoul).  That does not mean to let down your safety net and do stupid things.  But it simply means to think about studying or working in places that will challenge you physically, mentally, and socially.  Don’t hold on to irrational fears of the unknown.  Go and see it for yourself. 

- Make connections before you go:  With all the different websites available, you are never truly alone in taking a journey somewhere.  Get on message boards to connect with people already doing what you want to do.  If you want to teach, there are hundreds of websites at your disposal.  If you want to do a semester-at-sea or work on a farm or do a volunteer vacation, you have resources. Doing your research about a place will put your mind (and your loved ones) at ease about you leaving the nest. 

KoMiSa’s Take Away Thought: Let the examples of what Joia’s determination and diligence to step outside of her comfort zone to accomplish her dreams and goal be a true example of what can be achieved when stepping out of your own country/ culture/ and/or learning a new language can do when you open yourself up to the various experiences and lessons that the world has to offer. A huge thank you to Joia for being my first interview for this blog and for sharing a bit of her expertise with all of us!!!

Enjoy the World Around You,

KoMiSa