Internship
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Where are you from?  Why did you choose JMU?
I am from Manassas, Virginia. I chose JMU because: (1) it’s the perfect distance from home/ Less than two hours was far enough but not too far. (2) the culture is unmatched. It wasn’t my top pick until I visited and saw how beautiful the campus was and how friendly/happy everyone on campus was.

Why did you decide to participate in Washington Semester?
I’ve always been pretty ambitious, wanting to excel in all areas of my life from academics to extracurriculars. I learned quickly after getting to JMU that, with the necessary skills and support I was getting from my education here, I could start to tackle my professional goals too. I heard about Washington Semester as a sophomore and immediately thought it was a fantastic opportunity to not only jump-start my career but also just explore my professional interests and find out what I actually like in my field of study.

What were the highlights of your internship?
One of the most memorable highlights of the internship was the fact that I was constantly surrounded by amazingly intelligent and motivated individuals. From a deputy U.S. attorney general to some of the best securities lawyers in the country, I found it to be incredibly rewarding to have the privilege of interacting with these people on a daily basis. Furthermore, the SEC has a very robust internship program that encourages students to grow and learn during their time there. I thoroughly enjoyed brown-bag lunches with professionals from diverse backgrounds and presentations tailored to interns on different topics. I was happy to have such a supportive, motivating, and interesting work environment.

What were the highlights of your Washington experience as a whole?
I think it was the people in the program that made my Washington experience so awesome. The small group of students who are so driven, smart, and hard-working turned into lifelong friends and memories I’ll never forget. I made some of my best friends in DC and some of the most memorable highlights of the semester include:  Seeing shows at the Kennedy Center (Aida, The Book of Mormon), Having “Fancy Day” (Tea at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel, Dinner at Café Milano), and enjoying a beautiful weekend in the city (outdoor events, museums, exploring new neighborhoods, etc.)

What advice would you offer to future Washington Semester students?
My advice to future Washington Semester students would be to get as far out of your comfort zone as possible! Chances are that everything about the program will be new, and potentially uncomfortable: living in the heart of a major city, doing an internship possibly for the first time, spending time/living with a small group of strangers, etc. But all growth happens outside of one’s comfort done and taking the risk and trying something new will always be rewarding and potentially life-changing.

What are your long-term career plans?
My long-term career plans are still up in the air (obviously) but right now I’m leaning toward the consulting/contracting/government relations side of things. I’ve done two federal internships now and enjoy the stability, balance, and meaningfulness of the work, but would like to explore the private side of things. Wherever my career path takes me, I know I want to work somewhere that helps people and contributes socially but also allows me to be challenged and work with people everyday.