As second semester rolls around at Wes, I am remembering my last semester there a couple years ago. The two things that stand out most
in my mind are finishing my thesis and desperately looking for a job that did not involve signing my soul over to some consulting firm, law
firm, or other nasty corporation. I know that crunch-time is starting for seniors, and I want to give some words of encouragement to those
looking for a job that will impact change, especially in the environmental field. I remember feeling that I was on a futile path as I called up
every small, socially responsible organization I could think of, only to be told that I needed at least two years of experience. You all notice
the catch-22 here: You can only get experience if you get a job. You only get a job if you've got experience.

I was lucky though, and found a job that focused on giving me experience in non-profit work, and was even dedicated to helping me find a
job in the environmental non-profit field after one year. The program I found, and which I am working on rainforest issues for in San
Francisco, is Green Corps. Green Corps is a job and a training program for grass roots political work rolled into one. During senior year I
hardly dared to hope that I would actually find a paying job to organize demonstrations, work with community groups, and really, to work
for a better world. So, seniors, there is hope if you want to work organizing around the environmental of social issue that pulls at your
heartstrings. In fact, I hope to see more than one of you in the Green Corps program next year. Don't be discouraged in your search for a
meaningful job that will create real change in the legal andcorporate structures of this country!

Daniela Cusack’99

Latin American Studies