United States: Sarah Badger
Program: UW Wisconsin in Washington, DC Internship Program, Fall
Sarah’s Major: Global Health
Describe your internship, research, or fieldwork and how the experience helped advance your career or studies.
My internship was at a non-profit that works on international economic policy. While there, I saw how non-profits work and how they interact with the federal government and international organizations. This experience helped advance my career because I am interested in working for a non-profit in the future, and this allowed me to see what that kind of work would look like. It also helped me gain a better understanding of how the federal government and international organizations work.
My advice for someone considering the Wisconsin in Washington program is to come into it with an open mind…some of the most amazing moments I had while doing it happened when I least expected them. You need to be open to any possible experiences that come your way, either through the program or through your internship.
What is your most memorable experience from your program?
My most memorable experience from my program was attending a briefing at the US Capitol. It was amazing to get the opportunity to go to the US Capitol and participate in a briefing with staff from legislative offices, non-profits, and other organizations. I learned so much about how that part of the legislative process works, and I was proud to attend as the sole representative for my organization.
How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?
The program academics were similar to taking classes at UW-Madison because they required a lot of work and taught me a lot about the primary subject matter. However, they differed in the methods used to teach the information, as guest speakers took up a significant portion of each class, and class discussion was also an important part of the classes. I enjoyed hearing from many professionals who live and work in DC and gaining an understanding of the different types of careers available there.
What is the moment you are most proud of?
The moment that I am most proud of was helping to run a large organization event at the end of the semester. I had spent a lot of time working with my supervisor and other interns on the planning and organizing the event, and it was gratifying to see it come together. I am proud of the work that I put in and the experience that I gained through assisting in the running of the event.