Internships

Alisar El Rayess, MIA ‘18

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Geneva, Switzerland

“My first day interning was World Refugee Day. It was an extremely exciting occasion as headquarters was hosting a large celebration for refugees with music and performances from around the world. My internship is with the MENA Bureau, where I focus on addressing the consequences of the Iraq, Syria and Yemen wars. I also work on mapping refugee and other persons of concerns’ movement along the Central Mediterranean Route. I am currently monitoring that states along the route do not violate the non-refoulement clause of the UNHCR constitution. It has been an extremely rewarding experience and I could not have asked for a better internship.”
Elizabeth Fitzgerald, MIA ‘18

U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy in Rome, Italy

“At the embassy, I spent my summer working in the political office and trying not to eat too much gelato! I worked closely alongside Foreign Service Officers to collect information about Italy’s internal and external affairs and report back to our desk in Washington, D.C. With the upcoming national elections in 2018, political party coalitions morphe and realign on a weekly basis. I assisted in drafting reports, memos and speeches for the Charge’ d’ffairs and helped create more analytical pieces. I had the opportunity to attend meetings, briefs, conferences and roundtables with Ambassadors, UN representatives, military generals and other local institution leaders. Topics discussed ranged from Kosovo’s continuing struggle for recognition by African neighbors to controversial NGO participation in Mediterranean migrant rescues. I planned visits and escorted high ranking officials who had particular agendas that required bilateral meetings with our Italian counterparts.”
Frederick (Spike) Hemans, MIA ‘18

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), Hobart, Tasmania

“You can think of CCAMLR as a mini United Nations. However they operate under a much narrower focus: that of protecting the ecosystem of the Southern Ocean and regulating commercial activities of nations participating in fishing activities. My internship at CCAMLR involves working with Fisheries Compliance to put in place successful programs to understand the magnitude of illegal toothfish fishing activities in the region, with an eye towards reducing the annual illegal catch. Our project involves making a large proposal to the commission asking the European Union to fund a Synthetic Aperture Radar system to detect illegal fishing vessels operating near the Antarctic continent.”
Layna Lowe, BA/MIA ‘18

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya

“ILRI’s mission is to improve the livelihoods of pastoralists in the arid and semi-arid lands of northern Kenya. I am working on a pilot project to create a livestock market information system through crowdsourcing. Within four days of arriving to Kenya, I left for fieldwork to conduct focus group discussions on how well the project is operating in the communities so far. I create field reports to identify steps forward for the project and use STATA to analyze data quality. Interning at ILRI has got me very interested in the agriculture sector of international development.”
Joanna Valle Luna, MIA ‘18

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

“As an intern for ILRI, I collaborated with the Index-Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI) team on a project focused on supporting pastoralists made vulnerable due to severe droughts. The insurance provided to the pastoralists is based on satellite data. I’ve been involved with the project since its early stages to its launch in collaboration with the World Food Program of the Somali Region. Some of my responsibilities included: the customization of an e-learning program for stakeholders, developing a monitoring and evaluation framework, research design, data analysis and visualization, plus conducting fieldwork in rural communities (Jigjiga and Yabello) by organizing focus groups with the pastoralists and collecting data better understanding how the index is constructed. Overall, for a GPS student interested in quantitative methods and econometrics, this internship definitely added a great deal of understanding and knowledge to my professional and academic experience.”

Ruodi Huang, MPP ‘18

Tsinghua University Research Center on Data and Governance, Beijing, China

“My internship supports a research project on the influence of internet-based policy innovation on China urban governance. I’m working on this project under the supervision of Professor Tianguang Meng. My main responsibility is managing the implementation of the national public survey and the embedded survey experiment. This internship brings me additional chances to engage in the scholarly community, in the research center and beyond. For instance, I am also working as a project assistant with Professor He Chen for her research on long-term care insurance.”
Shuwen Li, MPP ‘18

American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), Beijing, China

“As an intern of the Department of Government Affairs, my responsibilities include collecting domestic policy updates, macroeconomic data and commons from both government officers and AmCham members. In addition, I’ve been translating some parts of the China Business Climate Survey Report and the 2017 American Business in China White Paper, and delivering those translations to the department. AmCham is a great platform that gives me opportunities to meet with entrepreneurs, officers and experts from many industries. I really appreciate the opportunity to work here.”
Tang Li, MIA ‘18

Baozza, Beijing, China

“Founded in 2016 as China’s first ever pizza and bao fusion food concept, Baozza has quickly become a known and loved mainstay in the Beijing food and beverage scene. It has garnered two awards, coverage in more than 200 media outlets globally and deals with investors and strategic partners. As an operations and business development intern, my primary duties consisted of intensive market research including industry trends, preparation of business plans, financial models and strategy-related research, deal-making support, and creative content design and planning. During this internship experience, I learned quite a lot about the industry and got to be involved in many detailed aspects of a start-up company, which was very valuable for me because being a successful entrepreneur is my dream. I believe the practical business experience I got this summer will be very helpful for my future development.”
Alex Webb, MIA ‘19

U.S. Department of Commerce, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Commercial Section, Taipei, Taiwan

“Interning with the AIT Commercial Section has given me the opportunity to delve into many different facets of economic relations between the U.S. and Taiwan. Our office is responsible for promoting U.S. goods and services in the Taiwan market, as well as encouraging Taiwanese investment in the U.S. Because commercial officers and specialists cover a wide variety of industries and market sectors, my day-to-day work has involved everything from drafting a report on Taiwan’s information security market to developing a project proposal focused on promoting U.S. tourism destinations to Taiwanese travelers.”
Erika (Wentian) Yang, MIA ‘18

Leyard Optoelectronic Co., Beijing, China

“I’ve been involved in activities of the Siyuan Star Education Fund, co-founded by Leyard and the China Siyuan Foundation for Poverty Alleviation. It has been a great opportunity to organize, promote and follow-up on it’s 2017 summer program. We have invited teachers and students from Hunan Province to experience our company’s innovative technologies such as the naked eye 3D LED VR theater. I also work with the team to support marketing campaigns, analyze product performance and generate sales reports. This internship offers me a valuable chance to contribute to public welfare, and gain some basic knowledge in marketing and events operation.”

Andrew Kincare, MIA ‘18

Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI), Tokyo, Japan

“As an intern at MRI, I have been able to research a topic very close to my heart, which is higher education. I have benefited a great deal from the opportunities and knowledge afforded by a college education, so it is a great privilege to research it in detail at MRI. A top-class think tank in Tokyo, MRI provides in-depth information on topics provided by clients, who range from private corporations to ministries of the Japanese government. Based on the research, they recommend an action plan to the clients, and help them enact it as well. In a short time, I have already learned a lot about professional researching, and have been completely supported and befriended by my colleagues. I also have time to enjoy wonderful Japanese food, culture and landscapes outside of work hours. I couldn’t be more grateful to the MRI for hosting me and to GPS for funding my travel.”
Shunichi Muto, MIA ‘18

Ernst & Young (EY), Tokyo, Japan

“This summer, I am interning as a transfer pricing analyst at the EY Tokyo office. Transfer pricing involves a lot of knowledge from international economics and practical skills to accounting skills. My daily tasks include gathering security reports on various companies, both in Japan and abroad, analyzing the comparable companies’ pricing range for overseas transactions, writing and reviewing transfer pricing analysis reports, and so forth. It is so exciting to engage in the international business of various large firms by leveraging what I learned at GPS!”
Nicholas Ryan, MPP ‘18

Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI), Tokyo, Japan

“I have been working for the Nuclear Safety Division here at MRI on recommendations for improving risk management in the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoko Earthquake and Fukushima nuclear disaster. MRI principally develops solutions for the Government of Japan with an array of technical subject matter experts. The division is primarily focused on policy research for the new Japanese Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NRA), along with technical support for the ongoing decontamination and decommissioning of the Fukushima plant. While I do not have a nuclear engineering background, my training in risk management in the Navy and quantitative skills honed at GPS have allowed me to support several policy recommendations for MRI and the NRA. I’ve also enjoyed interacting with the staff including a team-building outing to a rock-climbing gym to exercise some risk management and fun.”

Richard Banks, MIA ‘18

Startup Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

“I’ve had the opportunity to work in an organization that is dedicated to supporting new Mexican startups by providing them office space, mentors, workshops and business strategy advice. I have been committed to e-commerce projects that have required me to design a website that offers services such as legal advice, digital marketing, software services and brand registry. My work colleagues have also been more than helpful by introducing me to what working in a professional environment in Mexico is like. And, to learn more about the many interesting entrepreneur projects at Startup Mexico SUM and help their products reach the Mexican market.”
Kyle Benzinger, MIA ‘18

Startup Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

“Startup Mexico SUM is an incubator and consulting agency that promotes innovation across Mexico. Headquartered in Mexico City, SUM has multiple locations across the country and partners with private companies and public institutions while providing spaces and resources for startups to grow their business. Startups have the advantage of working with industry professionals that advise them on their business strategy. My main task is developing a communication strategy that helps SUM build stronger relationships with its business partners and better engage its customers.”
Hamsell Pallaviccini, MAS-IA ‘18

U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Tijuana, Mexico

“Interning with the U.S. Department of State in its Mission to Mexico program has been an exceptional experience for my career. Serving in the political and economic section in Tijuana has allowed me to interact with major players in the bilateral ecosystem. I work with a unique team where I have had the opportunity to contribute to writing cables and provide analytical reports on the current political and economic situation of the State of Baja California, including the Binational Mayors Association Summit 2017, the Tijuana River sewage spill and the NAFTA renegotiation. My consular district also facilitates U.S. investment in Baja California by providing domestic insights on security, which has given me the privilege to engage in foreign policy implementation.”
Mateo Villamizar Ch., MIA ‘18

University of California San Diego, fieldwork in Bogotá, Colombia

“My experience conducting research with GPS Professor Francisco Garfias and UC Los Angeles Professor Darin Christensen has been fantastic. During the internship, I could test my qualitative and research skills in a poor area of Colombia that is characterized by the cohabitation of legality and illegality. At the same time, I was able be part of an randomized controlled trial and I learned a lot about the different contexts in which people live through realizing interviews and focus groups in the community. This opportunity also enabled me to understand the links between property rights and economic development and how policies directed towards formalization can result in sound public policy.”
Yingtao Xie, BA/MIA ‘18

Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock, Brasilia, Brazil

“My objective is to diversify exports and to facilitate the sales of high-valued agricultural products to China. This fits into my research project in which we try to launch a randomized control trial to learn about the impact of e-commerce on farmers’ economic well being. To make online sales feasible to farmers, I have been in contact with the Chinese Embassy, the Alibaba Group, Apex-Brasil and various producer associations. By the end of the internship, I hope to organize a multiparty meeting in which Brazilian producers can reach some preliminary agreements with Alibaba on online sales.”

Diana Chung, MIA ‘18

East Asia Institute (EAI), Seoul, South Korea

“During my EAI internship, I have been tasked with research on civil society capacity in Myanmar, while assisting in proofreading and formatting grant proposals. Part of my research includes improving civil society capacity through policy design and implementation by looking at relevant case studies on government procurement, citizen budgeting, urban planning and minority education in Southeast Asia as well as China and Africa. I am also involved in the Korea Friendship Program, which brings together international students to further discuss common topics of interests on Korea. In addition, I am able to cultivate my own research with the help of many faculty members.”
Yaroslav Makarov, MIA ‘18

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Bangkok, Thailand

“My internship at the ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction Division focuses on the promotion of information and communication technologies in the Asia-Pacific region. In particular, we are encouraging wider broadband Internet access in developing countries, promoting the idea that insufficient connectivity can hinder those countries development outcomes. Currently I am working on building an econometric model that could help identify the level of educational attainment at which, according to our data, the connectivity in a country could take off. The GPS quantitative curriculum is extremely useful for the work I am doing now, and I can’t wait to return for the advanced classes in the fall.”
Adam Schaar, MPP ‘18

Innovations for Poverty Action, Sorsogon, Philippines

“This summer I am working with Innovations for Poverty Action under a team of UC San Diego researchers, including GPS’s own Professor Nico Ravanilla, studying the effects of community oriented policing practices on citizen trust and police effectiveness. Currently, we are between phases of the study so I am performing data analyses on the previous phase’s results and helping the team prepare for the rollout of the next phase. I have enjoyed getting my first taste of what goes into conducting field research and am proud to report that I am applying the skills that I learned in the first year of quantitative methods courses at GPS.”
Adriel Taslim, MIA ‘18

U.S. Department of State, U.S .Consulate Chiang Mai, Thailand

“My official job title is Public Diplomacy Assistant, so my responsibilities include managing all the social media for the consulate, planning outreach events for Americans and Thais alike and writing weekly briefs for Washington on official consulate events. Because of the current hiring freeze and the versatility of the skills learned at GPS, my supervisor has mentioned that after I’m acclimated, she will have me write cables on political and economic analyses of the region. It’s rather interesting as I have other interns under me who I need to manage as well, so I’m learning how the State Department works while also learning how to manage interns. I’m really enjoying my time here even though we’re super busy because every day offers a new cultural event to plan and/or attend, so there’s never a dull moment.”

Xiomalys Crespo, MPP ‘18

U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

“To understand how the nature of policymaking is evolving, you simply have to be in Washington, D.C. to experience it and GPS made that happen! As a legislative intern for the Committee on Homeland Security, I worked with the professional staff of each subcommittee to draft memos and reading materials for hearings, markup and bills. One of the most rewarding experiences was passing the Department of Homeland Security Reauthorization Act of 2017. I also worked with the press team on the logistics of Capitol Hill’s National Security Forum, where I interacted with then Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley and Senator Marco Rubio. However, the real highlight of my internship has been the amazing networking opportunities afforded to me during events for organizations such as The Heritage Foundation and the Council on Foreign Relations, where I was able to talk to well-known representatives of media outlets like the The New York Times, CNN and Fox News. These experiences have furthered my understanding of how complex policymaking processes can be.”
Julian Haddad, MIA ‘18

NASA, Washington, D.C.

“We all know NASA – they put people on the moon! This summer I am fulfilling a lifelong dream of working with the organization that turns my science-fiction daydreams into reality. I work in the NASA History Office, a branch of the Office of Communications, for the chief historian. Most of my time revolves around managing the office’s various social media handles. As one of the most popular Facebook and Twitter NASA accounts, we are constantly providing our followers with quality content about what NASA and its related organizations accomplished on that day in history. I’ve also assisted with reports to various government agencies and completed other miscellaneous intern tasks. I’ve learned so much by being here and I am thankful for the GPS funding that made it possible.”
Ashley Farah Halabi, MIA ‘18

Physicians for Human Rights, New York, NY; and Justice Rapid Response, New York, NY

“I am interning at two NGOs that are devoted to helping war-torn countries investigate crimes against humanity and other human rights violations. My work at Physicians for Human Rights involves investigating attacks on healthcare in Syria and updating the online map of attacks which can be used as evidence once an international tribunal is established. At Justice Rapid Response, I work on the communications side to promote their roster of experts who it deploys to international tribunals that need specific expertise in their missions to hold perpetrators accountable.”
Richard Hill, MIA ‘18

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Washington, D.C.

“During the summer I interned as a program assistant in the Office of Cards, Payments and Deposit Markets in the Division of Research, Markets and Regulations. It was my responsibility to conduct market monitoring by analyzing and summarizing qualitative and quantitative data about how ‘real world’ consumer markets were operating. I then provide expertise to contextualize the research of our inhouse economists to guide the policy rulemaking process at the CFPB. I applied the writing, research and analysis skills I honed in my first year at GPS to write a summary of third party credit card comparison websites, and generated risk assessment on the adoption of third party financial aggregators (Mint, Yodlee, etc) for data privacy and liability that was presented to the director.”
Meghna Jain, MIA ‘18

Technoserve, Washington, D.C.

“Technoserve is an incredible organization that is dedicated to providing business solutions to poverty in the developing world. As an impact evaluation intern, not only have I experienced the dynamics of an international nonprofit organization, but I have also delved deep into the concepts of monitoring and evaluation. Currently, I am developing performance metrics across Technoserve's logical framework levels (Goals, Outcomes, Outputs) for 65 active projects spread across Africa, Asia and Latin America to streamline effective monitoring and evaluation. I also conducted a quantitative analysis to determine the impact of Technoserve's intervention on small businesses and entrepreneurs based on certain broad indicators and analyzed trends over the past four years.”
Brenna McKee, MIA ‘18

American Apparel & Footwear Association, Washington, D.C.

“The American Apparel & Footwear Association is a national trade association that represents apparel companies and seeks to shape public policy on their behalf. As a government relations intern, I have had the opportunity to witness the real-world application of what I have been learning at GPS. From lobbying Congress, to roundtable discussions with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Office of the United States Trade Representative regarding NAFTA negotiations, I have been lucky to be a part of an exciting summer in the world of international trade.”
Gabriela Patricia Rubio Moreno, MPP ‘18

Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP), Washington, D.C.

“CCAP helps policymakers around the world develop, promote and implement innovative, market-based solutions to major climate, air quality and energy problems that balance both environmental and economic interests. As a sustainability intern, I had the opportunity to work under the Waste, Oil and Gas Program on projects that are focused on the Latin American region. I applied my knowledge from GPS to different tasks and learned how an NGO can influence policy. I was also able to attend CCAP’s Oil and Gas Workshop in Mexico City. There, I networked with Mexican officials and debated on regulations surrounding the recent energy reform in my country. This experience reaffirmed my desire to continue working towards a more sustainable future.”
Manuel Valdes, MIA ‘18

Engage Cuba, Washington, D.C.

“Engage Cuba is a U.S. coalition of private companies, organizations and policymakers dedicated to advancing federal legislation to lift the embargo over Cuba. As a Cuban student, interning here has been very useful and encouraging in my intentions to participate in a political and economic shift in the island. As part of my duties, I have been doing research on several Cuban institutions and politicians and participating in the development of business strategies for companies such as Ecolab and the New York Mets. Moreover, I was involved in the conversations between a group of Cuban entrepreneurs and several U.S. policymakers such as Senator Patrick Leahy, Representatives Jack Bergman and Tom Emmer, and Scott Fairchild, Chief of Staff to Senator Cortez-Masto.”
Abraham Valles Lavandera, MIA ‘18

Organization of American States, Washington, D.C.

“As an intern at the Secretary for Strengthening Democracy at the Organization of American States, I was able to be a part of the department which organizes electoral observation missions in the Western Hemisphere. Broadly, their work serves as an international instrument to evaluate the fairness of elections throughout the Americas, an exercise which has proven to increase confidence and reevaluations of democratic institutions. As an intern, I analyzed the political climate surrounding upcoming elections in different countries using vital skills that I learned and practiced at GPS, such as analytical writing, data visualization and theory.”
Angela Zhou, BA/MIA ’18

Urban Outfitters HQ, Philadelphia, PA

“As a planning intern, I analyze sales, inventory and financial data in order to forecast the demand for products. I spend the majority of my time using Excel and pulling data from our data warehouse (EDW) to create reports on divisional sales trends. These reports help planners with creating the budget and setting inventory targets to keep each division of the business on track to achieve the planned growth. I was also tasked with finding new ways to present financial and sales data so that it can be easily understood by those without a financial background. The company culture at Urban Outfitters is amazing and I have had so much fun exploring the East Coast!”

Adrian Bissdorf, MIA ’18

ServiceNow, San Diego, Calif.

“As a user experience analyst at ServiceNow, I identify ways to improve their products through user research and data analysis. My work includes listening to customer feedback, conducting studies, extracting insights from user interviews and turning those insights into action. This requires close collaboration with the design team and the product owners, presenting findings and recommendations and ultimately tracking progress. I recently conducted two studies which validate an improved navigation and content organization for one of our products. Currently, I am extracting insights from user interviews and analyzing feedback in order to improve our backend processes.”
Mark Burgunder, MIA ‘18

Institute of the Americas (IOA), San Diego, Calif.

“At IOA I research energy issues in Latin America and the Caribbean. I wrote the monthly report on Distributed Energy prospects in Chile, which was distributed to government officials and business executives at an energy roundtable in Santiago. Currently, I’m researching the publicly operated transmission system in Panama and various approaches to privatization ahead of an upcoming roundtable event. I’ve been able to use the analytic and research skills I’ve learned at GPS to great benefit, and look forward to continuing my work at IOA through the upcoming school year.”
Daniel Cedeno, MIA ‘18

Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles, Calif.

“My experience in the Mayor’s Office of Los Angeles has been a great opportunity to witness how cities operate in a global context. The Office of International Trade team connects local businesses to overseas opportunities through outreach, export training programs, and international trade tours. The office also oversees city departments such as the Port of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles International Airport. During my internship, I have been able to research and help craft programs related to cross-border e-commerce and foreign direct investment, help plan trade tours and support meetings with international delegations. My classes at GPS definitively prepared me to operate in such a high-level environment!”
Abby (Hsin-Pei) Fu, MIA ‘18

Project Concern International (PCI), San Diego, Calif.

“As the monitoring, learning and evaluation intern at PCI, I am currently working on two major projects. Using evaluations and documents from past programs, I am conducting qualitative analysis on lessons learned and best practices to understand what contributes to program successes and how challenges are overcome. In addition, I am also doing research to develop various standard operation procedures. It has been great to learn about PCI’s motivating work and what it’s like working at a nonprofit organization.”
Quinn Lewis, MIA ‘18

Plant With Purpose, San Diego, Calif.

“I have been working as the grant writing and programs intern with the San Diego-based international development nonprofit. Having been given the opportunity to work in two positions for this organization, I have had the chance to learn and refine a number of skills that extend across departments. My time is divided between proofreading, editing and writing reports, proposals and grants, including compiling statistics for use in those documents and updating the program descriptions used to organize the work Plant With Purpose does in field offices around the world. This last task involves cataloguing current program and activity lists, developing questions to expand on these lists and then holding phone calls with the local program staff in the seven countries where Plant With Purpose works.”
Yushu Lin, MIA ‘18

Give2Asia (G2A), San Francisco, Calif.

“As a research intern at G2A, I work directly with the CEO, reporting to him on a weekly basis. A key duty was to identify new partner organizations, especially U.S. firms, interested in developing giving programs to Asia. I was also responsible for grantee data research and analysis for marketing purposes, among other tasks. Excel became my daily tool as I organize information into presentable sheets, while using STATA for data management and causal relationship defining. By digging into the CSR side of firms, and researching into local NGOs in Asia, I broadened my view of the international development domain.”
Taylor Marvin, MIA ‘18

Pacific Gas & Electric, San Francisco, Calif.

“As part of Pacific Gas & Electric’s electric vehicle infrastructure team, I am working on a pilot project which aims to deploy 7,500 EV chargers throughout northern and central California. In particular, I am helping to coordinate EV incentive and load management programs with local Community Choice Aggregators. This internship has been a great opportunity to learn more about the challenges and opportunities of building EV charging infrastructure as well as to experience what it’s like working in a major electric utility.”
Eamonn Wilson, MPP ‘18

Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles, Calif.

“The chamber of commerce is an advocate for businesses both large and small in Los Angeles County. As an intern with the public policy team, I tracked legislation in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. on a broad range of issues impacting local business, including health care, housing, environmental regulation, transportation and public-private contracting. I drafted advocacy letters indicating the chamber’s support or opposition to particular bills, then sent them off to relevant elected officials and other stakeholders. I also had the opportunity to attend monthly meetings of the chamber’s sector-specific advocacy councils, in which I learned about the issues facing each sector and networked with business leaders in a multitude of industries.”
Reem Zubaidi, MIA ‘18

Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Los Angeles, Calif.

“This summer, I am working as a policy and business analyst at the Los Angeles Conservation Corps. Some of the duties of my internship include research on legislative updates, funding opportunities and recruitment avenues. I have also gotten to pursue my own interests as they relate to the organization’s mission of helping at risk young adults with education and employment opportunities. One of the biggest things I’ve learned from my internship is how nonprofits and private companies cooperate to work on initiatives that are mandated by the local or state government.”