Brielle Valenza ’20

Where are you currently living? I am currently living in my hometown Chester, NJ but am traveling to Barcelona early July-mid August to participate in a pre-law fellowship that will help me prepare for my future endeavors in law school.

What are you currently doing with your degree? I plan to use my political science & psychology degree to pursue a career as a Federal criminal prosecutor and/or possibly work for the Federal Bureau of Investigations specializing in human behavioral analysis of past, current and future criminals.

How did participating in Immersion Week impact your career path? Participating in Immersion Week in March of 2018 greatly facilitated my transition from pursuing broadcast journalism to political science. Through visiting esteemed news outlets such as The Washington Post, WUSA9, Voice of America, etc. opened my eyes to my true passion which is not reporting the news, but rather, having an active role in legal reform, criminal justice, and working to protect and defend the laws of the U.S. government.

Any advice for potential Immersion Week participants/future SU graduates? My advice for future Immersion Week participants/SU students would be to keep an open mind, embrace change rather than fear it. Your path could change when you enter the working sector after undergrad, but I highly advise going on the Immersion Week trip to gain an insider perspective of SU alumni after graduation and their respective journeys to success.