LC Alumna Lindsey Clark (’18) Reflects on Experience with QuEST

Hi there! My name is Lindsey, and I am one of the 2018-2019 QuEST Fellows. QuEST has been a really special gateway to opportunities that I otherwise would not be able to access as a recent graduate. First and foremost, being a part of QuEST has allowed me to work at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP). NWIRP is a legal organization that provides free immigration legal services to immigrants who would otherwise be unable to afford legal advice and representation. Working at NWIRP has been an amazing, challenging learning experience, and I feel so grateful for the opportunity to work there. My favorite part of the job is that every single day I get to talk people from all over the world with all sorts of different experiences and ideas. I learn new things literally all the time, both about the US immigration system (it’s pretty messed up) and about people trying to navigate it (much more fun). It’s tough, heartbreaking work at times, but very worth it.

Besides the chance to work at an awesome organization like NWIRP, the best thing about QuEST is the community it facilitates. Moving to a new city- even if it’s not that far of a move- can be pretty isolating, especially for the first few months. I didn’t know anyone in Seattle before I moved up here, and I was nervous about leaving my community in Portland behind for somewhere where I had no connections at all. Turns out I had nothing to worry about, because QuEST ushered me through the cushiest move I’ve ever experienced. The QuEST program sponsors 5-6 fellows every year to work at various nonprofits in the Seattle area and puts us up all together in a beautiful old house in the University District. When moving to a new place, I highly recommend moving in with 4 other compassionate, motivated 20-somethings eager to make a good impact on the world. It was incredible to move to a new city and automatically have a group of like-minded, caring people there to go through the transition with. In the months since we all entered this program, I have come to love and rely on my housemates, and I can’t imagine my life here without them.

So check out QuEST! Whether you’re looking to get your foot in the door of the
nonprofit world or just want to do a year of meaningful work in a new city, the QuEST Fellowship provides a great opportunity to meet new people, gain experience, check out a new place, and explore social justice in a professional and personal capacity.