Internship
U.S. Department of Treasury

Where are you from?  Why did you choose JMU?
I lived in Midlothian, VA at the time I decided to attend JMU. I knew JMU was the school for me the first time I set foot on campus. The school resonated with everything I was looking for in my college career. The combination of academics, student involvement, campus facilities, and the beautiful campus ultimately lead me to attending JMU for the next four years.

Why did you decide to participate in Washington Semester?
My first year at JMU, I had no major and no idea on what I wanted to pursue. One of the deciding factors in choosing Public Administration as my major was the ability to partake in the Washington Semester. The ability to live and intern in our nation’s capital, remain full-time students, and immerse ourselves in the culture was the ultimate reason I decided to apply.

What were the highlights of your internship?
I break my internship into three main parts; project work, networking, and the ability to take advantage of I had access too. The project work I was given was thought-provoking and provided me new insights on how to approach problems within the workforce. The network I was able to establish within my internship will continually prove valuable for many years to come. Lastly, I enjoyed tours of the Treasury building and learning all the history that has happened within its walls.

What were the highlights of your Washington experience as a whole?
Looking back on the fall of 2018, I would have to boil my highlights to three key areas. One of which would be growing close with my classmates as we interned and explored the area in our free time. Second, would be my internship experience at the U.S. Department of Treasury. It had a profound affect on how I thought about problems and went about developing solutions. Lastly, would have to be the special topics class that we took during the week. This class taught me how to think in a different mindset, and challenge me to become and independent thinker with the ability to reinforce my thought process.

What advice would you offer to future Washington Semester students?
My piece of advice is to take advantage of your time in Washington. Go out and attend speakers, go to a Supreme Court oral argument, watch a movie on the lawn of the Library of Congress. The opportunities to explore new cultures are endless. Within your internships ask questions, be agile, and look for areas that you can add benefit. I truly believe that what you put into this experience pays of two-fold.

What are your long-term career plans?
I am unsure on what the future holds, but my plan is to continue to grow my skill set and add benefit to where it is needed.