Community Spotlight: Ani Talanian
Name: Ani Talanian
School & Major: Catholic University of America, Majoring in Psychology and Minoring in social work
What are your plans after college?
My plans for after college is to get my masters in social work and work for a company that focuses on child advocacy in the justice system.
What would be your dream job?
My dream job would be working at a government agency in Washington, DC that has to do with child advocacy and foster care system reform.
Why did you want to intern at the American Autism Association?
I wanted to intern at the American Autism Association because I’ve worked with children with disabilities but have not had a lot of experience working with children with autism. I want to learn more about Autism and the services and programs this organization provides for families as well.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time I love to play guitar, ukulele and piano and sing as well. Working out is something I love to do, and spin classes are my favorite exercise to destress and calm me down. I also love volunteering at my school's Habitat for Humanity, where we work together to build houses and places for families to stay in Washington, D.C. and the DMV area.
What’s been your favorite class in college and why?
My favorite class in college was a social work class course called Human Behavior and Social Environment. This was particularly interesting because it focused on why people behave the way they do and how a person’s environment and the society they live in has a large impact on their behavior, societal norms and way of life. It focuses a lot on sexism, gender roles in relationships and in society and made students take a step back and look at their own life as well.
What are you most looking forward to after graduation?
After graduation, I’m mostly looking forward to being on my own financially and being able to decide what I want to do with my life and achieve the goals I have set for myself. I am a huge traveler and I've visited over 10 countries, so traveling with friends and volunteering in different countries is something I am looking forward to as well.
How do you like your coffee (or tea)?
When I go to coffee shops, I almost always order an iced latte with oat milk. When I'm home, however, I love my Keurig and k-cups with cream :)
Where is your dream vacation?
My dream vacation is traveling around Africa and different countries in Asia. My dream is to take 1 month and dedicate it to traveling, going on safaris and embracing different cultures. One thing I can say about traveling to different countries, is you always want to go in with an open-mind, so that you'll leave with a whole new perspective on your life.