BA in History

Greg Oler, 2024

Do you have a particular standout course or professor from your time as an undergraduate student?

A standout course that influenced not only what I thought about course material and curriculum but also how I should view a course itself was HIST 357 Postwar Japan: 1945 - Present taught by Dr. Brian Platt. The course focused on materials and sources that were not limited to textbooks but included primary sources in the form of media, political cartoons, and movies that showcased ongoing movements, ideas, and trends in a form that we could understand and see in the modern world. The presentation of the materials was unique and exceptional and helped me not only enjoy the course but other courses as well, as I was better prepared as a student and learner.

What activities were you involved in during your time at Mason that impacted you the most? 

I often struggled finding the time to balance work, school, and life and I was worried that I would fall behind in maximizing my time at Mason. Ultimately, Mason's unique events and programs were a great resource. I knew I couldn't go to every event, so I chose to go to the events that mattered most to me. One such event was Mason's Foreign Service Day, hosted by the Schar School of Policy and Government. I've known for a long time that I want to be a Foreign Service Officer and work in the U.S. Department of State, so this event was not only right up my alley but was a must-go every year I spent at Mason. The speakers, talent, and professionals that the event attracted were invaluable to a student such as myself, and the event was much more than a lecture, instead being a powerful and effective round table discussion and conversation with experts in the Foreign Service and diplomacy field. This set the bar high for other events and another amazing event, this time that I participated directly in, was the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Research Symposium where I got to present my hard work and research and learn from my peers. A part of me was worried my research paper would end up as another name in my Google Drive, but this event allowed me to take not just my research but my presentation skills to the next level.

Reflecting on your time at Mason, what is one piece of advice you would give a student who is just starting off on their Mason journey?

As a transfer student, I initially had a hard time "plugging into" Mason in the same way many other students were. Ultimately I found interesting ways to enjoy Mason that I hadn't thought of before. I'm originally from Southern California and had never been to Northern Virginia before coming to Mason, so I found myself not only in a new campus and a new city but what felt like a new world. I took the things that I knew I had to do, such as getting a part-time job, investing in career fairs, and attending networking events, and made them my tool and method to "plug-in." I ended up making friends with Mason students outside of campus, both at my local church, Korean Central Presbyterian Church, and my part-time job at Samurai Japanese Steakhouse. This common setting where I was able to meet a diverse group of peers, and at times recurring peers, was excellent in finally feeling at home in Mason and Fairfax. In my last year at Mason, I would focus more and more on jobs, careers, and networking, and I noticed a stark difference in my efforts from working alone to working with my Mason peers and taking their input, advice, and feedback. My ultimate advice to incoming Mason students would be to get creative with what you do, how you do it, and why. It's perfectly fine to do something and acknowledge you don't "plug in" right away. Be curious, be creative, and be innovative not just in your school work but how you choose to go about Mason. 

What is your next step? 

At the time of my graduation in August of 2024, I had just completed a long-term substitute teaching position at Chantilly High School on behalf of Fairfax County Public Schools and had just completed an intensive summer program at Middlebury Language Schools for their Intermediate Japanese program. With those two things in mind, I had no clue what I would do next, but fortunately, my career developed fast, and I find myself currently working in the U.S. Department of State as a contractor Management Analyst. My next step is to continue what I have been doing for years and continuously take the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT). The test has often been described as a marathon and not a sprint, and it is expected that applicants will take the test multiple times across years before seeing progress. I will soon take the FSOT again in 2025, applying to work in the Economic Cone. Although it may be a while before I get past the testing stage, I am so glad that Mason could help me get to the step I am at now.