Hometown: Hemlock, MI
Major: Political Science
Minor: Russian Language, Literature, and Culture
Internship Placement: US Global Leadership Coalition

 

Why did you decide to do Michigan in Washington?

I wanted to gain experience working in international affairs and learn from the experiences of others in my field.

What do you do during a typical day at your internship?

I watch and summarize events related to global diplomacy and development, cover top news stories in Europe and present them to my department, and fact-check information for my supervisor.

What's something that you're proud of that you've done at your internship so far?

I am proud to have assisted in leading our organization's initiative to learn more about the role of the Office of Civilian-Military Cooperation (CMC) in USAID. As part of my internship at the US Global Leadership Coalition, I am able to write and publish a blog related to diplomacy and development initiatives. For my topic, I wanted to write about the CMC office. However, it was difficult to find information about the work it conducted. Due to this, I reached out to a member of our organization who had connections to members of the Department of Defense to see if I could learn more. This person also wanted to learn about the CMC office for her department. As a result, I was able to work with her to schedule a meeting with a member of the CMC office and learn more about their work, giving me the opportunity to gain necessary information for my blog.

How has your skillset evolved or changed since you began working on this internship?

I have become much more knowledgeable in global affairs since starting my internship, particularly in regard to diplomacy and development initiatives that the U.S. conducts. Additionally, I believe the constant meetings and events I've participated in have improved my communication skills. Also, my internship requires me to type a large number of documents that are presented to the organization. Due to this, I am now more comfortable writing professionally.

What is one fun activity that you have done since being in D.C.?

I enjoyed going to the International Spy Museum and checking out the exhibits with the rest of my cohort. I highly recommend it!

What advice would you give to a student interested in Michigan in Washington?

Don't be afraid to go and try new things, even if you sometimes have to do them on your own. Try and go to something new every week if you can. Your time in Washington is limited, so you should try and make the most of it. Also, be sure to regularly meet with people while you're in D.C. Most people would love to have a coffee chat if you reach out to them, especially if you already know them through class or your internship. It's always beneficial to get to know people and learn from their experiences. They may prove to be beneficial later on.