As another year comes to a close, I want to wish everyone a very happy New Year.

For many of us, 2025 was not an easy year. It demanded flexibility, patience, and a willingness to adapt to uncertainty (important traits if you want to be in the FS). For those already serving overseas, it reinforced how unpredictable life in the Foreign Service can be. For those considering this path, it offered a realistic glimpse into both the challenges and the quiet resilience required to live and work far from home.

Yet 2025 also highlighted why people are drawn to this life in the first place. Even in difficult moments, there is purpose in service, community in shared experience, and a deep sense of meaning that comes from supporting others and representing the United States abroad. The Foreign Service is rarely simple, but it is often rewarding in ways that are hard to explain until you are living it.

As we look toward 2026, there is reason to feel hopeful. The Department continues to move forward, and within the medical tracks specifically, new hiring classes are coming online, including a January intake. While no system changes overnight, these steps matter. They signal continued investment in the future and opportunities for those who are preparing now and waiting for their moment to apply or accept an offer.

If you are thinking about joining the Foreign Service, the new year is a good time to reflect on what you want from a career and a life. This work asks a lot of you, but it also gives you a front-row seat to the world, lifelong friendships, and experiences that shape who you are. It is not always easy, but it is meaningful.

Here’s to 2026 bringing new opportunities, renewed momentum, and clarity for those already serving and those hoping to join. Wherever you are on that journey, I wish you a healthy, steady, and hopeful year ahead.