USA: Abigail Peterson (Virtual)
Program: UW Wisconsin in Washington, DC Internship Program, Summer
Abigail’s Major: Economics, Political Science, Consumer Health Advocacy Certificate
How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?
My program academics differed from classes at UW-Madison because the assignments were geared towards career exploration. This encouraged me to research different sectors surrounding policy advocacy that I had previously thought I was uninterested in.
The coursework allowed me to reflect on my professional and personal goals for the future, which has not been a priority in classes that I have taken at UW-Madison.
What is your most memorable experience from your program?
My most memorable experience from my program was participating in my organization’s virtual conference. I was fortunate enough to hear from experts on the inequities present within childhood safety issues and the programs occurring across the world that are working to bridge those gaps. It was especially exciting to listen to Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and his advice on how to counteract inequities present in our society.
Describe your internship, research, or fieldwork and how the experience helped advance your career or studies.
My internship was with Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit whose mission is to mitigate preventable childhood deaths and injuries through research, education and advocacy. My experience with this organization solidified my interest in health policy and connected me to people across the country that are devoted to similar issues.