Four years in the Foreign Service, and somehow it still feels like I just walked into A-100.

These years have moved fast, full of new places, challenges, and moments that stretched me well beyond anything I expected when I first signed on. It hasn’t always been easy. This career asks a lot, both professionally and personally, and there have been plenty of days that tested resilience and perspective.

But stepping back, one thing is unmistakably clear: joining the Foreign Service is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

The sense of purpose, the people, the chance to serve something larger than myself, it has brought a level of meaning and career satisfaction I never found in the private sector. Even on the hard days, the work matters in a way that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. It’s hard to imagine a job in medicine where the impact of our work can be so complex and varied.

I still have a long road ahead of me in this career, but I am grateful for the colleagues, mentors, friends, and family who have been part of these first four years. Excited (and curious) to see where the next chapters lead. Now that we have gotten tenure out of the way, the next big step in 2026 will be learning where I will be headed next in the summer of 2027. Looking forward to it. -Nick