UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Throughout her time at Penn State, student Charis Liu has taught herself to “just go for it.” This motto led to a productive college experience, including numerous internships and academic opportunities, preparing Liu for a career in international politics and diplomacy.

Liu, a fourth-year student double majoring in international politics and comparative literature in the College of the Liberal Arts, chose her two majors because of her multicultural and immigrant background, which has informed her academic and professional pursuits.

Liu always knew she wanted to work hard to build a successful career. Being raised in a multilingual household, she has shaped a career path around her core values and interests.

“I thought I had a pretty linear idea of what I wanted to do, but I came to Penn State and discovered so many opportunities,” Liu said. “Being able to work in politics in a global context was incredibly interesting to me. I’m also bilingual, so I’ve loved being able to capitalize on that.”

Liu’s desire to work internationally led her to the Perreault Fellows Program — a fellowship program that offers Penn State students a global and cross-cultural leadership, ethics, service and mentoring experience focused on health and the betterment of the human condition. In the summer of 2023, she completed an internship in Barcelona working for a grassroots organization that raises awareness about human rights violations in Spanish-speaking countries. Liu said she still talks to her roommates from that summer.

This past summer, Liu had the opportunity to put her skills into practice during an internship in Washington, D.C., with the National Bureau of Asian Research. Throughout this experience, she worked with a research team to understand the impact of Congress’ work on the Indo-Pacific region.

“We did a lot of research on AI and intellectual property theft,” Liu said. “I had the opportunity to write briefs, sit in on meetings and even got to interview someone from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.”

Liu explained that the College of the Liberal Arts was integral to making this internship happen. She found this opportunity with the help of the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network, and she also received enrichment funding through the Career Enrichment Network to support her time living in Washington.

“Funding from the Career Enrichment Network has allowed me to supplement the various experiences I’ve been lucky enough to receive both within and beyond academics,” Liu said.

Liu said Penn State has taught her countless lessons and allowed her to complete opportunities she never would have expected.

“I learned you have nothing to lose, so just go for it,” Liu said. “I applied to be a Perreault Fellow on a whim and ended up having the best summer of my life.”

Liu said the skills she gained through the College of the Liberal Arts will help her as she starts her professional career in international politics.

“There are skills you just can’t be taught in a classroom, and the college has definitely given them to me,” Liu said. “It is so invaluable to learn through personal interactions and working in high-pressure environments. It’s very reflective of how the real-world works, and I’ve really learned how to sell myself this way.”

After Liu graduates this coming May, she plans to continue seeking opportunities in international relations and looks forward to relocating to Washington and working abroad in the future.