Miles Away & Miles Ahead: Interview with Frank Princesa

Frank Princesa at the top of Table Mountain in South Africa

Frank Princesa has attended Frostburg State University for four years now and will be graduating this December with a degree in International Studies and a minor in Political Science. When asked what led him to the international studies field, he said “My interest started in 9^th grade when President Obama was elected.” In fact, one of the biggest influences in his interest in international politics was his teacher in high school, Mr. Crouch. Frank says the definitive moment for his interest in all things international was when Mr. Crouch gave him a copy of the Washington Post newspaper the day after President Obama was elected. Not only was this a historic moment for the United States but also for a young Frank.

Frank in front of Big Ben in England

Frank has already implemented his passion of international studies through his international travel. Frank grew up in a military family so traveling was something he became accustomed to quickly. He tries to travel at least once a year and in his most recent expedition traveled to the United Kingdom for Study Abroad. He studied at Northumbria University and while overseas he took various classes including but not limited to studies on Terrorism, British Culture, and Global Poverty. In addition to the UK, Frank has been to various other countries such as South Africa, South Korea, and the Philippines. 

After graduation, Frank hopes to further his international experience by joining the Peace Corps. When asked about his motive behind joining he said, “I love volunteering and I love travelling, so I’m excited to join something where I can do both”. When asked what his dream country to visit was, The Congo came to mind. Frank has traveled to various parts of Africa but never there. While Frank loves most countries, he'd prefer to travel to one that isn't too hot. When Frank traveled to the Philippines it was their peak heat season and he said it was difficult to live in the severe heat but he still had an enjoyable experience abroad. 

If not the Peace Corps, Frank would like to work for the United Nations or State Department. His favorite country to work with would be the United Kingdom and if those two plans don’t pan out quite as planned, grad school is on Frank’s radar as well. He is looking at schools in the D.C. area, specifically George Washington University because of their highly credited International Affairs master's program. With all of his travel experience and knowledge of foreign countries, it's hard not to imagine Frank going far in anything he does.