Internship
Alliance for Justice

Where are you from?  Why did you choose JMU?
I am from Sykesville, Maryland. I chose JMU because of the unique opportunities that the university offers and the glowing recommendations that every alumnus that I met gave for the university. Everyone I spoke to who went to JMU told me about their amazing experiences as a Duke.

Why did you decide to participate in Washington Semester?
I started as a Music Education major and was actively involved. After changing my major, I wanted to find a way to get equally involved in the Public Policy & Administration program. As soon as I heard about Washington Semester it instantly became my top priority goal. I knew the unique experience would help me immensely in the long run.

What were the highlights of your internship?
The highlights of my internship were the interviews I conducted  with nonprofit leaders across the country. This gave me the opportunity to take a peek behind the scenes and develop a deeper appreciation for the nonprofit sector and the work it does.

What was the highlight of your Washington experience?
The highlight of my Washington Semester experience was not only growing as a professional myself but seeing the rest of my cohort find success and see how far we all have come not just as future workers, but also as friends.

What advice would you offer to future Washington Semester students?
Networking is great and definitely a crucial part of the Washington experience. As important as it is, it can’t get you very far without initiative. Take that leap of faith and jump into your work even if you are not 100% into what you’re doing, The people you work with are going to be much more excited to help you out when you approach the work with passion and a positive attitude.

What are your long-term career plans?
As of now, my plans are relatively up in the air. I would like to keep an open mind on my exact path, but I am very interested in working in consulting after graduation. From everything I have heard from those who have went down that path, it can be very rewarding while still having a good work-life balance. It also has one of the most important parts of a career for me, which is constantly working with people.