. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁girl's guide to pre-politics . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁
HELLO, my beautiful future-world-shaper angels, it's mindy hereeee again.
if you haven't realized by now (based on my pre-med + pre-law posts) i'm going be turning this into an entire series "the girls guide to ___" (basically any career field. the point is to help my ambitious girlies get the career they want.) this post is dedicated to the girls who naturally pull toward power, definitely not the masculine, aggressive kind. the kind that lives in words, rooms, negotiations and long tables where big decisions are made. also, if you love history documentaries, who are interested in 'the diplomat' and 'scandal' on netflix and take inspo from kate wyler and olivia pope. also, if you get chills during united nation speeches, ANDD secretly imagine themselves walking into embassies, briefing rooms, or parliament halls.
okay, sorry, that was a lot, but i'm sure you get what i mean. this is focused heavily on diplomats and politicians, thanks to the amazing @sofi-core for this creative idea/request! basically, if you're an ambitious girl who cares deeply about justice, global issues, people, and how the world actually works behind the scenes, this guide will be extremely helpful for you.
if you've ever thought "maybe i want to be a diplomat." or "maybe i want to be in politics." or even "maybe i want to influence policy, not JUST talk about it."
you might want to consider "pre-politics"
~ ♡ what you need to know about becoming a woman in power in politics: ~ ♡
the skills/things you'd actually need to learn:
learn how power actually works
understanding people, cultures, and systems
build a sharp mind and very graceful presence (you need to build your identity as a politician/diplomat)
prepare for leadership before you're handed it
you need to know how to think strategically
negotiate ETHICALLY NOT bribery!
and actually hold power as a woman with grace
~ ♡ why you ASBSOLOUTELY belong here ~ ♡
we all know the world is a male-dominated society. and politics/law is so exception, the patriarchy has made the politics world filled with faces of men. BUT, politics and diplomacy aren't "men's work." that narrative is OVERLY outdated, colonial, dumb as hell, and frankly boring. even when men claim that it's "men's work" and men can only have power over the world, the world has yet to gotten better. the world right now, is still on fire (even with a man in power) climate crises, migration, reproductive rights. ai ethics, and half the population has been systematically sidelined from fixing it.
that's not oNLY unfair, it's also very veryyy inefficient. you belong because you see nuance where others see black and white. because you girls reading, already meditated friend-group drama with more skill than most world leaders. why? because empathy, emotional intelligence, and long terming thinking traits society loves to code as "feminine" -- are actually superpower advantages in negotiation rooms.
MY PERSONAL OPINION: if you feel the pull toward this world, DO NOT TALK YOURESELF out of it! especially if it feels "too big" or "too masculine." the gatekeepers want you to self-select out. don't give them the satisfaction.
~ ♡ for my precious high school policy babes ♡ ~
exploration + foundation years
high school is actually perfect for exposure; it really is PERFECT for training yourself. your job right now as a high school girlie is to widen your worldview and build confidence.
before we get into the nitty gritty, ask yourself a few important questions.
why politics? power? justice? representation? global issues?
also, another one i think is important is to ask yourself if you prefer behind-the-scenes strategy or public speaking.
a very important question: local politics or international diplomacy?
(also are you more analytical or people-oriented)
classes that are perfect for you!
(please note: don't overwhelm yourself with a bunch of ap classes)
HOWEVER! there are some main priorities, these are the classes i HIGHLY recommend:
english (learn persuasive writing)
history (patterns repeat)
government (this is obvious lol)
economics (power is money)
sociology (PERFERCT for understanding people, societies and cultures)
psychology (the gold mine for negotiation and mind reading lol)
these classes are here only if they're available for you:
MATH MATTERS TOO, unfortunately, it's true (budgets, data, stats etc)
things to try (even if you’re nervous):
model united nations (NON-NEGOTIABLE. this is basically diplomat core)
debate team or speech + forensics
student government or student council
mock congress + youth legislature programs
volunteering with local civic orgs or nonprofits
youth advisory boards (city, county, school district)
helping with local political campaigns (even small ones!!)
voter registration drives
attend city council or your school board meetings
WRITE OPNION PIECES FOR YOUR SCHOOL PAPERR!!
(i already mentioned attending a city council meeting in my pre-law post, and it might sound boring, BUT! for pre-politics girls this is where you learn how power ACTUALLY functions. who speaks, who listens, who decides, who stalls. THIS IS SO HELPFUL!)
follow global affairs AND u.s politics
read essays, op-eds, and journalism
PRO TIP: learn basic political vocab (policy, governance, diplomacy, sanctions etc.)
take one global issue a month (climate, migration, trade, conflict, education)
pro tips for high school girls
colleges love early civic engagement
consistency matter more than prestige
writing and speaking skills are really important
build relationships with teachers
yes, i know its high school, but i assure you. THIS MATTERS.
you want to be known as: intelligent, respectful, articulate, reliable, driven
avoid public drama (and drama at all)
THINK before posting!! digital footprint is a real thing, and your future rivals might research about you lol
future you will thank you
~ ♡ for my darling college pre-politics angels ♡ ~
okay now we're gonna get into college, i feel like if you started in high school and now you're transitioning to college, HIGH SCHOOL PREPARED YOU. and now you need to be a little more serious.
just like pre-med and law, there's no required major for diplomacy or politics. BUT like my other posts, i'll give you the most popular and suggested majors most diplomats and politicians choose.
languages (SUPER DIPLOMAT-CODED)
something i really recommend and found interesting is to double major or minor in something that adds to your portfolio and depth. like minor in a foreign language, or study abroad (even short-term is AMAZING on your resume) and also regional focus (like the middle east, europe, east asia, africa etc)
i recommend studying abroad. PREFERABLY in a non-english-speaking country. you can also live with a host family.
core pre-politics experiences
internships with government offices
policy think tanks/research institutes
ngo or nonprofit internships
congressional or parliamentary internships
international org volunteering
model un leadership roles
research assistant for political science professors
advocacy or lobbying organizations
believe it or not writing is very important.
take writing heavy courses
practice speaking with CALMMM authority
learn how to confront someone in a girlboss manner
take public speaking or rhetoric courses
~ ♡ languages + global literacy (this is huge) ♡ ~
if you want to become a diplomat, LANGUAGE ARE NOT OPTIONAL. they are basically currency. diplomacy is basically communication.
consistency > fluency goals
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE NOTE: LEARN THE CULTURAL CONTEXT, not just words and grammar. it's very important.
watch foreign films + news
read translated literature
understand the history behind the culture OF THE LANGUAGE you're studying
change phone language (kind of intense)
watch shows in the language
now, here are languages that are superr valuable you might want to consider learning:
you don't need to be a polyglot, AT LEAST be bilingual.
~ ♡ skills that are non-negotiable ~ ♡
public speaking MASTERY IS KEY
writing is actually a weapon. practice writing daily.
emotional resilience. learn to detach your worth from outcomes. i suggest therapy and build a little circle of support.
you need to be a digital savvy. understand misinformation, data privacy. algorithmic bias.
learn to maintain eye contact
INTRODUCE YOURSELF CLEARLY! figure out your own introductions for different types of people
follow up after convos, don't ghost people
~ ♡ the grad school / foreign service era ♡ ~
international affairs programs
government service pipelines
note: if you want the foreign service or top policy jobs. you can start researching master programs.
i'll go more in detail on part two of this short series for pre-politics
~ ♡ my personal pre-politics tips ♡ ~
i think women in politics are so inspirational and just overall amazing. it's great to see women in power. WE DESERVE TO HAVE LEADERSHIP ROLES.
stay in spaces long enough to be trusted
learn how to disagree very respectfully
understand your values before chasing titles
~ ♡ emotional wisdom for politics girls ♡ ~
i won't lie to you guys, but this path actually attracts perfectionism, comparison and also imposter syndrome. and sometimes even moral fatigue. and also, definitely sexism.
never shrink yourself to be likeable. you are allowed to be feminine and strong. empathy is never a weakness, and don't trust anyone who says that. INTEGRITY IS YOUR REAL LEgACY!
if you feel called to this path, PREPARE intentionally. protect your values and stay curious. always learn HOW systems work so you can change them without losing yourself. the rooms you'll enter need more women, who are thoughtful, ethical, steady and very much awake. (yes i'll be making a part two to this)
