Julia Conway, a sophomore international security and law major at the Schar School of Policy and Government, hopes to enter the intelligence field after graduation in 2027. She writes about her experience as a member of the Upper-Level Democracy Lab Learning Community, one of five learning communities at the Schar School.
The Upper-Level Democracy Lab is an immersive residential learning community available to any on-campus sophomores, juniors, or seniors at George Mason University. We engage in fun field trips, workshops, and networking events. The learning community supports students interested in government and policy as well as other related fields. It is a great way to make friends and be around like-minded students who are passionate about learning and driven to make a difference.
The prospect of learning more about the foundation of our government and being around peers with similar interests to mine was a huge selling point for me. Last year as a member of the First-Year Democracy Lab, we fostered a community that was supportive and super enthusiastic about all topics related to government and policy. We were able to use each other as valuable resources for collaborating on assignments and becoming active among other opportunities beyond campus. Although the Democracy Lab was a remarkable experience, it is not a prerequisite to joining the Upper-Level Democracy Lab. Anyone can join and be a part of our thriving community. The hope for many this year was that we could build off of this experience and create the same type of environment to extend to upperclassmen.
Members of the Schar School’s Upper-Level Democracy Lab embarked on their mid-semester field trip to Great Falls Park, about 40 minutes northwest of George Mason. We started the day with a picnic in the park and then ventured out to witness the natural beauty of the Great Falls. We were able to hike on the rocks overlooking the water and see different kinds of wildlife. One really cool thing we saw was the U.S. Park Police helicopter that flew right in front of us tracing the border of the falls.
To wrap up the day, we did a show-and-tell-style talking circle. We each brought or took a picture of an item that related to our personal identity in some way, and we shared its significance with the group. I think this helped a lot of students feel more connected to each other. It was really cool to hear peers talk about some of their own values and traditions, which reminded us that we can learn a lot from one another.
The excursion to Great Falls exemplifies the community we built in the Upper-Level Democracy Lab and what a lot of students experienced in the First-Year Democracy Lab too.
Georges Saade, a sophomore international security and law major said, “The collaboration and mentorship within this community have helped me grow both academically and personally.”
These commendations are examples of how the Upper-Level Democracy Lab has positively contributed to students’ lives. The Great Falls trip showcased how our professors and other staff at the Schar School go out of their way to create fun opportunities for us that promote team building. I would highly recommend that students who are interested explore more about this learning community. It has proven to be an invaluable opportunity to start your own network and advance beyond academia.
For more information on Schar School Learning Communities, you can visit the Undergraduate Learning Communities page.