Summer Internship Student Profile - Washington, DC

Student Name: Rachel

School/Major: University of Massachusetts Lowell; Political Science Major, Legal Studies Minor

Internship Placement: The Institute for Gulf Affairs

Duties: As an intern, one of my jobs is to research current events related to the Middle East, specifically Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states. In addition, I help the director, Ali Al-Ahmed, to read and respond to reports and statements issued by other organizations, such as the United Nations. I also help to spread awareness about Saudi politics and human rights abuses in the Gulf region. This means that I help to arrange meetings with members of Congress or their staff, other organizations, and members of the press. Since I set up meetings for Mr. Al-Ahmed, this means that I help to create his schedule and that I have to stay ahead of everything. Thankfully, I am working with another intern, Amanda, to get everything done!

What did you like the most about interning in Washington, DC?

There are two elements that make interning in DC the most enjoyable. The first element is the experience that I am gaining. I interned last summer at my State House, in MA, but that internship was not the same as the one I have now. In the State House, my level of involvement was relatively limited because I was not a staff member. At the Institute, I play a much more important role and I am definitely more involved in our work. The second element is the location! That I am able to gain such in-depth and hands-on experience in our nation's capital is utterly amazing! I am very interested in both law and politics, so to have opportunities to network in the city in which I hope to work can be summarized in one word: incredible!

What did you like the least?

The part that I enjoy the least is the pace of my class. With just a few exceptions, almost all of my classes have gone at a slower pace and have allowed for more in-depth discussions of the material we were covering. Given that the class runs for only ten weeks, we do not have that luxury. That said, I am learning to adapt and I am doing well in my class. After that, I would have to say that my biggest complaint is that there are simply not enough hours in a week!

Did your internship help you make future career plans?

My internship definitely got me thinking more about my future than I had before. This is not to say that I never thought about my future before my internship, but merely that now, because of my experiences, I am thinking about more specific career goals and how to attain them.

What recreational activities did you participate in while in Washington?

As a result of my responsibilities to both work and The Washington Center (TWC), I am usually unable to do too many things during the week. I try to go out for either lunch or dinner with my friends during the week, but that is not easy as everyone has busy schedules. That being the case, I usually spend my weekends sight-seeing, catching up with my brother (he lives locally), or going out with friends.

Where did you live? How were the accommodations?

I live in the Fenestra Apartments in Rockville, Maryland. The apartments are amazing! They are definitely high-end as they have stone countertops, hardwood floors and a private gym and pool! The central air is a major plus with all the heat and humidity we get.

Is there anything else that you would like to share about your experience?

The only thing that I can really think of is really a piece of advice. To everyone who is considering applying to the TWC, do not hesitate and take advantage of everything that the TWC has to offer. The TWC does not just teach its interns many things, including how to network, but it gives them many opportunities to practice what they've learned! They also provide a really good support network and they are more than willing to help you-so long as you ask!

Read more intern profiles on the following pages. See the index on Page 1.