Class of 2009, WWS
Press and Cultural Affairs Assistant, U.S. Embassy Beijing, Beijing, China
"This internship is a fantastic way to discover if the Foreign Service is the right career for you.  Embassies tend to be short-staffed during the summer months because many Foreign Service Officers take their home leave then; consequently, interns have opportunities to complete independent projects and do the work of actual Foreign Service Officers.  I accompanied visiting speakers around Beijing, organized a photography exhibit on Native American cultures, created and maintained database entries on Chinese media publications, sent daily briefings to high-level embassy officials about articles in the Chinese news, drafted correspondence on behalf of the ambassador, and assisted with the Six-Party Talks.  The State Department fosters a culture in which all staff members, including interns, are on equal footing and have a lot of input in decision-making.  Additionally, everyone is very willing to help interns adjust to life in China and work in the embassy environment; the expatriate community is close-knit and supportive.  Consider this great internship, and don’t forget to go swing dancing on the Great Wall." 

Class of 2010, CEE
Environmental Education and Eco-literacy Intern, Finca Project, Aguabuena, Costa Rica
"It's really difficult to specify what was my best experience while interning with Finca Project in Costa this past summer - the entire experience was one huge highlight in itself! It taught me immensely about a variety of things, not just in connection with the work that we did which involved teaching environmental education and working in a nursery among other things. What I saw and read about reforestation and conservation efforts in Costa Rica, especially in the locality where I was living, made me quite certain that conservation efforts do pay off and that changes can be made. I also learnt quite a lot about myself, and I think the experience gave me a renewed sense of confidence more than anything else. Going to a new country, experiencing and learning a new culture and language, was a challenge, and I really had to come out of my comfort zone in order to participate in and enjoy the program fully."

Class of 2010, PHY
Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon in the Dresden Zwinger, Dresden, Germany
"During the summer of 2007 I had the privilege of interning at the Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon, one of the world’s oldest and most respected museums of scientific instruments. While I uncovered secrets of natural philosophers of the past, I also discovered something about myself. Alone in a foreign land, I was struck by the kindness and love of strangers. A smile can transcend all language barriers and the simplest gesture of caring can mean so much. Life’s real gifts are our relationships and I try to extend the kindness I learned in Germany to all those I meet."

Class of 2010
Intern at Pro-Link HIV program, Cross Cultural Solutions, Hohoe, Ghana
"I had the most incredible time interning at Pro-Link in Hohoe, Ghana this past summer. Not only was living in a very rural village (no running water or electricity) an incredible experience, but being able to work directly with villagers really helped me to see the devastating effects of HIV and malaria and how organizations can combat these. I really enjoyed counseling patients and just talking with locals about their lives, hopes, and dreams. This experience truly allowed me to see what it is like working in a developing country and gave me a much better firsthand perspective of global issues."