Sarah Taylor is a graduating Linguistics Major this Spring. We spoke with her about her time at UF and what is coming next for her.
1. What’s next for you?
I am pleased to announce that I will be working as a contractor for one of the top companies in the aerospace and defense industry, Raytheon Technologies. While it is certainly not in the field of linguistics, I have no doubt that the analytical and research-based skills that I have developed during my studies will be utilized daily in my line of work.
2. What’s your biggest achievement as an undergraduate?
One of my biggest achievements as an undergraduate was being given the opportunity to intern with the Department of Justice. As a freshman, I never expected to be selected for their internship program, so I was very surprised when I discovered that I was accepted into the program. During my two years interning with the DOJ, I gained valuable experience working in the federal government and met people from all walks of life. During my time as an intern, I realized that I loved working in the defense industry, which is what ultimately what led me to accepting an offer to work as a contractor for Raytheon.
3. What will you miss most about the UF Linguistics?
I will miss many things, however what I will miss most is being able to take a broad range of linguistic classes. During my time as a linguistics major, I took classes on things such as the structure and sounds of language, as well as classes that examine how language interacts with things such as gender. Being able to take such a broad variety of classes allowed me to see the world from many different viewpoints and taught me a wide variety of skills.
4. What advice would you give junior Linguistics majors?
Don’t be afraid to branch out! Linguistics is an amazing field that teaches you valuable things, however it is even more valuable when it is paired with studies in computer science, foreign languages, or other studies. Even interning in a field that even mildly interests you will help you with your after-college job search.