Joe Saboe

Greetings Student Leaders,

My name is Joe Saboe and I am your resident counselor for the U.S. Institute for Student Leaders at Georgetown University this summer. I will be living with you in a residence hall on the university campus for the duration of the program. My job is to help with the planning of activities to foster a living-learning experience and also to provide advisory support to you during your stay on Georgetown University’s campus.

Please allow me to tell you a bit about myself. I recently graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and I have a degree in International Politics. I have study/work experience in several South American countries as well as South Korea. In my previous work here on the university’s campus I have been a resident counselor. I have also been active in volunteer service throughout the city of Washington for the past four years. I am very eager to learn from you about yourselves and to share with you a bit of my university, city, and country.

This program and the experience we are working to prepare for you should give you a broad perspective on American culture and the ethos that runs through much of it. We are a nation of immigrants: some very recent, and some dating back many generations. We are diverse: Washington, DC is home to groups of people from every nation on earth. Many people often live here retaining a vibrant cultural life transplanted from their homeland. The U.S. Institute for Student Leaders at Georgetown University will allow you to be immersed in the true diversity of American culture, and I am sure that you will learn many other things about America that I have not mentioned here.

We will do fun “typically American” activities together, like attend a professional baseball game. We will participate in volunteer service in the city; this volunteer service to others who are in need is a point of humble pride among many Georgetown University students, and many more people around the country. During your time here, we will also visit several very different cities in the eastern United States, including New York City.

I assure you that your experience here will be greatly worthwhile, and beneficial to you in understanding American society and its institutions. I am tremendously excited to be welcoming all of you here.