Hometown: Dearborn Heights, MI

Major: Political Science

Minor: Law, Justice, and Social Change

Internship Placement: Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia

 

Why did you decide to do Michigan in Washington?

Growing up, I have always dreamt of living and working in DC. I saw those MIW billboards everywhere and thought to myself, "How cool would it be to trial run my dreams?" Honestly, MIW is the best decision I've ever made, and living my dream isn't too bad either!

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

In a typical day at PDS, I start by heading into the intern lab and reading through my emails for any assigned tasks I got overnight. Otherwise, PDS is a very fast-paced work environment, so every day is drastically different. Some days I spend in court, others at different law enforcement agencies, and the rest out in the community serving subpoenas, interviewing witnesses, and canvassing. At the end of each day, I check in with my attorneys and investigators to make sure that we don't have any remaining pressing items on the agenda, then head home. Truth be told, no matter how my day goes, PDS is the best thing that has ever happened to me. From the most boring days to the busiest, I love every single second. It feels like I've finally found my calling!

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

After a particularly difficult night, I woke up in the morning with a text from a random number. The text was a client's parent telling me that their child was finally home. I never thought of myself to be anything more than "the intern" on the case, but that parent had appreciated my support and took the time to relocate my number and reach out to make that clear. It was the first time I felt like I was making a real impact on someone's life. I think that text will stick with me for the rest of my life. 

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

Before I began at PDS, I was always very organized and Type A with my work. I always needed a very specific work environment with detailed instructions to be the most efficient. Now that I'm at PDS, my job is to take multiple orders, from multiple people, in multiple formats, all with deadlines within an hour or less. This experience has taught me efficiency, flexibility and shown me that I am capable of so much more than I gave myself credit for. 

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

Touring the monuments late at night with the cohort! It was such a cool experience to see DC after dark and bond with my new friends! 

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

Go in and be proud of your differences! As an Arab-American who wears the hijab, intimidated was not a strong enough word to describe how I felt before coming to DC. Then, when I got here, I realized if I spent my whole time trying to blend in with everyone else, I wouldn't stand out anymore to the people that really mattered. Go into every meeting, gathering, and class knowing that the only thing your differences do is make you that much more memorable. You will find community, endless opportunities for growth, and so many people who love you regardless! I promise it'll all be so worth it in the end!