“This program allowed me to sit in rooms I’d never dreamt of, meet people from different walks of life, and learn so much.”

Lauren Clements, a Queen’s Psychology student, was one of eight Queen’s students chosen to take part in the Washington Ireland Programme [PM1] (WIP) ‘Emerging Leaders’ Program.

This prestigious program sees 30 students, selected for demonstrating passion and ability to spark change in communities across the island of Ireland, assigned high-profile placements across Washington DC for eight weeks.

Lauren tells us more about her WIP experience: 

“I worked in Capitol Hill for Congressman John Mannion[PM2] . I was able to assist in proposing new legislation, sit in on hearings, as well as being the first line of contact with Constituents.

Coming from a Psychology background I wasn’t expecting to have as meaningful a role as I did, and this experience taught me so much about people, politics and policy.

I’m passionate about advocating for a person-centred approach to medical care for vulnerable patients and WIP really instilled in me that leadership doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.

I know this is only the beginning of a life dedicated to upholding the values WIP has instilled in me, and I’m so humbled to have been part of the program.”

Tell us about your host family?

“My host family has been the best part of an already incredible experience of a lifetime. Moving across the world to live with two strangers and coming away with the most wonderful support system has been astounding. We bonded over our love for the outdoors, pets and music. For the host family farewell event, I did a duet with my host dad where we played a Beatles song on the trumpet and piano. Every evening at the dinner table we had the most insightful conversations, discussing anything from current politics to funny childhood anecdotes. I learned something new every day being with them, but the biggest lesson I will take home with me is their never-ending curiosity for the world around them and the generosity and consistent acts of kindness they show to not only the people that matter most to them, but to strangers like me at the beginning of this program. They have really helped me understand what matters most in life and I am so grateful to now have them as part of my family”.

How did you come across the Clinton Scholarship and what benefits has this offered you?

“When I was 17, I took part in the Pathway Opportunity Programme [PM3] (POP) at Queen's. This was one of the most impactful experiences I had relating to my personal and professional development, and I owe a lot of my subsequent experiences to Queen's University's Widening Participation Unit[PM4] . Since becoming a part of the POP family, I instantly became connected in the community and was made aware of so many possible opportunities I was eligible for, including the Clinton Career Insights Program[PM5] . The program enabled me to develop my professional skills including networking, understanding work in corporate America and meet some inspiring and career driven people both in America and back home in Belfast. It really was the perfect prerequisite for preparing me for the Washington Ireland Program”.

How would you sum up your experience of WIP?  

“The biggest takeaway from WIP is the community that I am now incredibly proud to be a part of. This program facilitates personal and professional development, giving you the opportunity to meet so many people from different walks of life, sit in rooms I had never dreamt of and learn so much from those around me. I have been surrounded and supported by so many amazing role models and mentors which has given me so much confidence in myself to achieve and never stop striving for better. The program's core values is Service and Leadership which I have learned comes in many forms. A common saying that we have heard this summer is 'don't let perfection get in the way of good'. This has certainly been a call to action and inspired me to use the tools that WIP has given me to return home and continue to make meaningful positive change in my community and play my part in creating a more peaceful and prosperous future for our country. The most amazing thing of all is knowing that my journey with the Washington Ireland Program doesn't end once I leave the United States. This is quite literally only the beginning of what I know will be a life dedicated to upholding the values WIP has instilled in me and I have been so humbled to have been a part of the program”. 

What advice would you give a fellow Psychology student?

I really hesitated to apply for WIP as I couldn’t find any previous students on the program who studied psychology.  So, I now would really like to raise awareness of the unique and diverse set of valuable skills that psychology students have and that it can play a role in any workplace including, in my case, Congress. I felt I was able to use the skills that QUB Psychology had given me and it really made me stand out.