Intern Blog | August 2011
This summer, the participants in PLEN’s Women & Public Policy Internship program are having meaningful experiences at various organizations and government agencies, including Women for Women International and the Office of Science Policy and Communication, National Institutes of Health. Within the PLEN Intern Blog site, you can learn more about our interns’ placements, their everyday experiences in the workplace and tips they have found helpful to make the most out of their internship and professional endeavors. This is the second in a series of two blog entries the PLEN summer interns did this summer. Please note that the views of our interns do not represent the views of PLEN as an organization.
For her second blog post, EMILY’s List intern Emily Hawkins decided to apply her knowledge of national and state voting laws to chronicle Voter ID laws that are being processed in some states throughout the country.
The Voter ID Deception
At first, a Voter ID law seems straightforward: you need a form of identification to buy items with a credit card, go to the doctor’s office, board an airplane, buy certain medicines, check in at a hotel, ride on Amtrak, and even go to Disneyland—so why wouldn’t you need an ID to vote? The answer seems simple, but in fact, is quite complex. Voter ID laws disenfranchise women, low-income individuals and senior citizens.
Voter ID laws exist in half the states, and are in the process of being passed in most others. In my home state of North Carolina, Gov. Bev Purdue is currently pitted against the Republican legislature over the issue. The basic gist of these laws is that people are required to show a valid form of government issued photo ID in order to vote. Some go further to require further proof of citizenship.
One major unintended effect of Voter ID laws are that women are disproportionately affected. A survey by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University’s Law School found that only 66 percent of all the women eligible to vote had access to a legally accepted document with their current name. Men largely don’t have this problem, because tradition states that the wife take the groom’s name not vice versa. In fact, 90 percent of married women change their name. This tradition is all fine and well, but voter ID laws mandate that the name on the registration card must be the same as the ID. What if a woman got married two days before election day, or was recently divorced? Would she be punished for changing her marital status and be prevented from voting? If the names on the two documents do not match, a person must bring court documents certifying the name change or marital change. And we all know how tedious bureaucracy is with securing documents on time.
Lower income people and senior citizens are also often affected. In order to secure court documents, one usually needs to take time off work and travel to the nearest courthouse. Time is money for many lower income people, and that extra hour of work could be the difference between dinner and going hungry. Sometimes documents cost money, too which is a scarcity for these groups. Seniors are at a similar disadvantage because their access to travel is limited. Both of these groups often have expired forms of ID, which do not count under most Voter ID laws.
While I recognize that voter fraud is a rampant problem requiring a solution, the current forms of Voter ID laws disenfranchise large demographics of the population. Reform should occur in a way that does not cost any money and is accessible to the voter. Reform should also include vast education plans that teach all citizens how to secure ID and all poll workers how the law changes the procedures. Broader laws should be passed that allow more forms of ID and enfranchise all citizens, not just the privileged young males.
Kaitlin Splett , who interned at Equal Justice Works, learned a lot about how to make the most of a summer internship in Washington, D.C. Read her blog entry on how a positive attitude is key to a successful summer.
A Positive Attitude Makes a Powerful Tool
I would like to share with you the most important thing you should bring with you to D.C. If you’re coming for an internship, or a job it is extremely important that you bring business appropriate clothes, enough money, comfortable shoes, a good camera, etc. But even if you bring all of that, you still have one more thing you can’t forget: a good attitude.
I know that sounds very fourth-grade, but the value of a good attitude was one of the main things I learned during my time in D.C. There are tons of interns in the city who come from all walks of life and all different backgrounds. Some of these people you will encounter, do not have a good attitude. Some of them will even pride themselves on a poor attitude. I beg you, do not be those people. As an intern, it is extremely important to keep a smile on your face. Even when you’re removing staples and refilling tape dispensers, your positive attitude will not only get you through the task, but will be noticed by your co-workers and bosses.
D.C. is a city that is powered by ego. You will find no shortage of smart, funny, interesting people, who are dying to tell you how smart, funny, and interesting they are. And while networking is an important skill, you have to work not to tread the line of pompous and vain. It is one thing to talk to people about your service project in Honduras, and quite another to brag to your boss about how your dad knows so-and-so and your grandpa was friends with so-and-so. Guess what? No one really cares. And if you take that vanity to the next level (i.e. assuming your status or connections means you get to opt out of lowly intern tasks) it will be your professional kiss of death.
That’s the thing about internships, you’re not really doing extremely complicated tasks most of the time. While the whole point is to learn, you’re really learning from the environment and the co-workers, and not necessarily from your tasks. Even if you do get something really interesting to do, chances are it isn’t going to be extremely complex. This is not a reflection on your top tier school or your 4.0, but rather what the organization needs from interns. Being upset about menial tasks is a big no-no, especially when you consider that from time to time even President Barack Obama runs out to grab lunch for his co-workers.
Keep your attitude professional and positive no matter the tasks you’re given and you’ll be sure to learn something and be appreciated. If you chose to get huffy or be negative you risk wasting your entire summer. Sure, you’ll get through the job, but when it comes time to put the job on your resume and ask for letters of recommendation, you can be in trouble. It’s a rough job market out there, and going the extra mile during your internship encourages your superiors to go the extra mile when writing your recommendation letters so you can land a terrific job or get into law school.
This all sounds like common sense but trust me, on those rainy Monday mornings when you’re doing the Starbucks run, it can be hard to remember. My advice? Just smile. Some days, that’s all you’ve got.
Hillary Fabrico , who spent her summer intern at the Global Women’s Network (GWN), says she had a life-changing summer as the GWN Program Coordinator. She learned how to sharpen her social media and event planning skills while also learning about women’s issues all over the world.A Life-Changing Summer
Coming into this internship I was unsure of what my responsibilities would be and what I would be doing. I knew I would have to self-motivate a lot due to the Global Women’s Network being a new organization, but I did not have a full understanding of what my responsibilities would be. I have the title of Program Coordinator, but that doesn’t really mean much because my duties extend much further than coordinating programs. I am responsible for updating our website on a daily basis, promoting GWN through social media, representing GWN at events, assisting with grant applications, developing marketing and partnership strategies, and planning and promoting events.
One of my major focuses is on promotion of GWN through social media. I never really understood the power of social media prior to my internship here. I have now learned about different strategies for tweeting or posting messages on Facebook that will make them more likely to be shared by others. Facebook, Wikipedia and Twitter have all been things that I grew up using and knowing about. I never realized that being proficient at them was a useful skill or that not everyone is as proficient in them as my generation. My internship has led me to think about how I can apply social media to the Model Senate program that I am part of at school.
I have also learned a lot about women’s issues. I never really followed women’s issues to the extent that I have this past month. Through reading news articles and attending events where I represent the Global Women’s Network, I have become more interested in these issues and I can see this interest staying with me in the future. I have always been fixed on doing something related to Congress where the member I would be working for is one whose opinion I would reflect. I can now potentially see myself working with an interest group advocating and promoting awareness for issues women face.
I never imagined some of the things I now know about, such as child marriage, acts of violence against women and restriction on women’s rights, happen to women in other countries and the severity of these acts.
Learning about these things has put perspective into my life and how lucky I am to have the opportunities I have and the upbringing that I have had. I hope to remain involved with women’s issues after this internship. I plan to maintain the connections I have established with various women and girls’ groups. I also plan to read the news outside of the scope of the United States and Europe.
I have always known that connections are important but I never realized how true that was until I came here. That is one thing that I see staying with me for the rest of my life. I plan to maintain the connections that I am making while I am in Washington and continue to make new ones. I feel like I have learned how to become a professional. Through correspondence that I have had with people through the GWN email and when I meet people at events, I have realized that people do not perceive me as a 20-year-old undergraduate. The surprise of others when I tell them my age, gives me confidence that I am presenting myself properly and impressing people; the connections I have made with these people are ones I will be able to possess in the future.
Overall, I am extremely happy with what my duties at the Global Women’s Network have turned out to be. I am much more actively involved with the organization than I would be if I were working for a large organization or on Capitol Hill. I can see the outcome of the work I do and feel like I am an integral part of the organization. I have not once had to get coffee or make copies. I also learned a much larger scope of skills than I anticipated, which in turn is helping me shape my future goals.
Avantika Handa used her time interning at National Institutes of Health (NIH) this summer as a way to reach professional and personal goals she set for herself. Handa’s blog chronicles how a summer internship in Washington, D.C. is a great way to get to know the city and oneself.Reaching Personal and Professional Goals
As my summer internship came to a close, I have realized how much I have learned and the strides I have made towards achieving my goals. At the beginning of the summer, I set three personal goals and three professional goals for myself. The first personal goal I set for myself was to explore D.C. and take advantage of the many attractions the city has to offer. The second personal goal I set for myself was to take the initiative to make a solid group of friends. The third personal goal I set for myself was to learn to get along with people that are very different than me in terms of their personalities, interests and backgrounds. I believe that I have achieved the three personal goals I set for myself at the beginning of the semester.
D.C. feels like a second home to me in many ways. D.C. feels like home not only because of the places I have seen and the things I have experienced, but mainly because I am comfortable in my office, friendly with my colleagues and because I have created a solid group of friends outside my workplace. While I haven’t mastered the art of hitting it off with people that do not have similar views and backgrounds as me, I have learned to be more open-minded. Moreover, I have learned when it is a good idea to voice your opinions and when it is a good idea to keep my opinions to myself. I believe I have also grown immensely as a young professional.
I set three professional goals for myself at the beginning of the summer. The first professional goal I set for myself was to broaden my skill set. The second professional goal I set for myself was to manage challenging professional relationships in a positive way. The third professional goal I set for myself was to develop a professional writing sample that I can utilize when applying for positions in the future.
I developed my communication, writing and networking skills while at my internship. From the assignments and tasks I completed in my day-to-day job, I believe I really improved my communication, writing, and analytical skills. I learned how to communicate with congressmen on the Hill when asking questions in hearings. In a very different setting, I learned how to communicate with scientists when translating scientific findings into press releases. I learned how to write internal memos for specific reasons and broadly summarize the happenings of a briefing so that they would be helpful to members of many institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Learning to write for targeted audiences is a skill I have developed this summer. Whether I was working on an assignment relating to Media Smart Youth, the Healthy Native Babies project, or writing a press release – knowing how to write in a certain context and for a certain audience is an incredibly valuable skill to possess.
Furthermore, I have extensively developed my networking skills. While I’ve always known what networking is, I never understood the true meaning of networking. I’ve learned that networking is a two way street that requires building, and more importantly, maintaining relationships with people. Not only have I learned how to build a network for myself, I’ve learned how to make networking a mutually beneficial process and how to connect people in my network with each other. One of the most important things I have learned this summer is to go after what I want, develop the skills required to do what I am interested in, and most importantly, to create opportunities for myself if they are not readily available. My coworkers, supervisor and fellow interns have inadvertently taught me that I have something to learn from every single person I encounter despite their position, title, or level of education.
I have changed immensely as a result of my internship experience with PLEN. This summer has exposed me to a variety of different people, situations, views, lifestyles, career paths and experiences. I wouldn’t change a thing about my experiences if I could. Living and working in D.C. this summer has shown me that women must have strong leadership styles in order to succeed. These days the word “feminist” has a negative connotation. Despite the negative connotation, it is important for women to push for their cause, because while women have made a lot of progress, there is still a long way for women to go in the public policy arena.
Rebecca Tulloch , an intern at Women for Women International, blogs about what it is like to intern at an NGO and how keeping a positive attitude is a great way to contribute in public service.
Learning Outside of the Classroom
Open another door, walk in, learn and contribute were goals of mine as I began my summer internship in an NGO serving the needs of women worldwide. Graduating from college in May was not the end, but rather it was the beginning of continuing to launch myself into a career of public service. I realized that no one is ever “done” no matter how much I had anticipated, especially when I graduated from college and about a week later began my internship.
As part of my internship application statement last spring, I described the personal importance of Gandhi’s belief that a person individually must be the agent for change. Change could only be guaranteed by one’s own actions. My prior internship in the summer of 2010 was in government relations, and my coursework in college had mostly been related to policy decisions in government, as well. To work in an NGO would help me gain knowledge and contribute to a workplace with which I was not familiar.
As my summer internship continued, I understood the “hands-on” way NGO’s operate with the goal of improving the conditions of people’s lives. Because I have been given and worked for opportunities in my life, it is imperative for me to give back. The “giving back” never really stops. Working at Women for Women International helped me better understand how this organization serves thousands of women each year in developing countries that have been victimized by war and conflict.
Over the summer, I have been exposed to thousands of women’s stories of struggle and perseverance. It was from hearing their stories that I learned how people can overcome insurmountable challenges. I also realized that many things which seemed normal and natural to me—as simple as sending a letter—were not the same when conflict and war have occurred. For example, communication between women and their sponsors in Iraq could not occur by mail and instead had to be done by fax.
I learned that a critical aspect of working in an NGO was making a contribution in a unique way to the organization. The contributions were often physical, such as hauling boxes of correspondence onto and off of tables to ensure that letters would be sent out. The professional staff liked to call this “intern gym”, I also got to know the mail machine very well spending many hours making sure correspondence was properly stamped. I also had encounters with the Xerox machine and sometimes I even won.
It was different than automatically going to Staples in college so that I would not have to worry about having enough coins for the Xerox machines in the library. I could not leave a Xerox machine not working since others needed to use it. Besides, I was not going to be defeated by a machine. The mail had to get out between sponsors and the women they supported halfway around the globe. And it all came down to hauling boxes, Xeroxing and stamping—the physical plant of the NGO. This part of my internship was really in the same spirit as having painted the apartments of senior citizens in a housing project in my first year of college—time to roll up the sleeves.
Working with my fellow interns gave me support and a sense of humor. I and the other interns learned about the various aspects of the organization that supported matching sponsors with women in other countries. From my supervisor and other professional staff who had families, I learned about the juggling act that women have to accomplish in balancing their personal lives with their profession. Working on revision of the NGO website with professional staff made it apparent to me that effective communication is at the heart of an NGO.
Working as a PLEN intern has given me insights about the ways women show a variety of leadership roles. What seemed to be most striking to me was the passion of women leaders in public policy. Attending the weekly PLEN seminars also made apparent the difficult decisions women in leadership roles have to make, especially when the current challenges and rewards from working in government were discussed by women in Congress at one seminar from all political viewpoints. Attending PLEN sessions and extra-curricular activities gave a focus to the entire summer internship experience because PLEN was home base. Additionally, “networking, networking, networking” was the theme of the summer.
I realize that having a dedication to public service and demonstrating it everyday full-time in the workplace is exhausting. After visiting with friends from college recently, I realized that I was in the workplace, on the way to wherever I will land next.
