Major: International Relations

• Internship: U.S. State Department, Bureau of International Organization Affairs

Tell us about your internship – what kind of work did you do? What did you find rewarding?

During my time at the Department of State in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs' Office of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, I contributed to the strategic planning of the Human Rights Council (HRC), regular session 51, and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Some of my responsibilities included writing daily activity reports that were sent out to other bureaus along with State Department and National Security Council officials, tracking HRC resolutions, supporting visits of high-ranking UN officials, researching multilateral issues, and vetting NGO UN applications. I gained a deep understanding of how the U.S. develops and implements human rights and humanitarian policy into the UN.

Have your career or life goals changed as a result of your internship? If so, how? 

My time at the U.S. Department of State furthered and reaffirmed my passion for international affairs. It also taught me about the inner-workings and internal structure of the State Department. I got the opportunity to talk with various people about their experiences as foreign service officers, civil servants, and political appointees. I also learned about new areas within international affairs that I may be interested in pursuing.

Share an exciting memory from your internship – something unexpected, an accomplishment, someone you met. 

I was fortunate enough to meet with multiple deputy assistant secretaries and hear from other senior officials at the department such as the Deputy Secretary of Management. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about their career paths and hearing their advice for me and other young professionals. I also loved hearing stories from my co-workers! Some of them have bizarre and honestly insane stories from their time at State and working at posts abroad.

Did your internship lead to any opportunities?

My internship has given me many connections and new mentors. My co-workers have also informed me of various programs and fellowships that I can take as next steps once I graduate. Lastly, my internship has given me many fond memories! I absolutely loved my co-workers in IO/HRH and the interns I met at State. They are all phenomenal people that I hope to keep in touch with and will miss dearly!

Share a story about something special you did in Washington – an event you attended, a place you went, an exciting talk, etc. 

If I had to choose one special moment from my time in DC, it would have to be watching fireworks from the Capitol steps on the 4th of July. However, my friends and I had many special and fun movements while wandering around and discovering new places in DC! We particularly loved Georgetown and the Wharf. We also developed soft spots for Tatte and Call Your Mother, two delicious places to grab a bite!

How has living in the nation’s capital for a quarter changed you?

Living in DC allowed me to gain more independence and confidence while simultaneously pursuing a job I was passionate about. Additionally, living in DC gave me a little bit of insight into what life after graduation could be like and turned some of my nerves about the future into excitement. DC is extremely unique and there is no place quite like it anywhere else in the country. It is bustling yet peaceful, and it is forward-looking yet historical. I loved living in DC and hope to return to the city sometime soon!

Do you have any advice for future UCDC students?

In regard to internships, apply early! This can even mean applying before the UCDC application opens. The most prestigious and competitive internships open up very early. To get my internship at the Department of State for the summer, I applied in November and had secured it by December so I could begin going through the security clearance process. In regard to your actual time in DC, time flies so make sure to prioritize doing the things that will make you the happiest and allow you to have the best experience possible!