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InternNational Defense University, Eisenhower School

Major: GVPT & Dance

Class Year: 2022

LinkedIn Profile

 

 

 

 

What was a typical week like in your internship position?

At National Defense University, I had a variety of tasks: every day was different! My supervisor was a Naval submarine Captain and a professor of Undersea Warfare, so I spent a lot of my time doing research on submarines, safety standards, and undersea warfare sights. My research contributed to my supervisor’s lesson plans and class syllabus. I planned foreign and domestic educational conferences for large groups of professional students and attended briefings and seminars in place of my supervisor. I also had the opportunity to accompany my supervisor and his students on trips to Capitol Hill, where I was given the opportunity of asking Representatives questions on their policies.

 

 

What do you enjoy most about your current position?

I really enjoyed NDU’s internship program! I was part of a group of 8 interns. We all shared an office, assisted each other when needed, and even ended up car pooling together. These connections made the work day feel a lot shorter. NDU’s internship program was also amazing because it provides the unique opportunity for their interns to participate in brown bag lunches, guest speaker presentations, and seminar discussions. Once a week, professionals from different federal branches and agencies came into the intern office for intimate discussions and about their field. This really helped me narrow down the professional path that I want to take and the agencies that I am interested in. My supervisors really wanted us to be successful in our future endeavors and went out of their way to ensure that we had the tools to do so!

 

 

How did your coursework help you in your internship?

I was part of the Federal Fellows Program my sophomore year. The program provided me with the tools necessary to be successful at NDU through resume and cover letter workshops, interview reviews, and professional networking events. Through the Fellows program, I was able to create personal relationships with my advisors and professors, who recommended that I apply to NDU. Additionally, all of my government classes contributed to my success at NDU, as it was important that I really understood the scope and impact that my work had.

 

 

How did you locate your internship position?

The Federal Fellows team helped me locate my position! Throughout my time in the program, I was able to create personal relationships with my advisors and professors, who thought NDU would be a great fit for me. They encouraged me to apply, helped me prepare my resume and cover letter, and practiced mock interviews with me. A couple of weeks later, a NDU representative emailed me to schedule a phone interview. Luckily, the interview went well and I was offered the position!

 

 

Advice for students:

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! This applies to the internship search process and the internship itself. The Career Center and programs like Federal Fellows are there to contribute to our success. UMD provides us with so many resources: take advantage of them. At the end of my internship at NDU, my supervisor provided me with a report of my work. He stated that he was extremely impressed with my communication skills, and that he really appreciated that I was not afraid to ask for clarification or guidance on a project. Even though being a young intern working with professionals is intimidating, it is important to take the initiative to ask for help instead of doing an assignment wrong. Plus, communication with your coworkers and supervisors just makes for a better overall experience.

 

If you have a passion for policy and are looking for a program to prepare yourself for the professional world, I cannot recommend the Federal and Global Fellows Program more. It’s a great way to make connections with students and professors in your field that you would likely not make otherwise. Not to mention, the program rewards you with course credit for your internship. Overall, it has had a huge impact on my college experience and my goals for the future.