Hometown: Saginaw, MI
Major and class standing: Comparative Cultures and Politics, Humanities-Prelaw, Senior
Where you interned: Sierra Club, Lansing, MI
What was your internship title and role/responsibilities?
Political Intern I was outsourced through the Sierra Club to work on Governor Whitmer’s campaign this past fall. I helped schedule, plan, and execute political events such as rallies, meet-ups, and Q and A’s. I also helped spread information about Whitmer’s campaign and events.
How did you obtain your internship? What resources did you utilize to secure your internship?
I found the internship through Handshake and I followed the instructions to apply to the position in the job description.
What did your daily routine include?
I would get daily tasks sent to me from several different members of Whitmer’s political team. The tasks would usually include things such as researching venues or small businesses for events and meet-ups, reaching out to local political groups about canvassing or promoting events, and writing newsletters or invitations to events. Some weekends, I would attend the events that I had helped plan.
Your favorite experience from the internship (2-3 sentences)
Toward the end of the election season, I attended the political rally in Detroit which spotlighted an abundance of Michigan political candidates and Obama. This was an amazing experience where I was able to really dive head-first into the career field that I am interested in.
What was your least favorite part of the internship?
A lot of the internship was remote, this is not inherently a negative point but might be for some people.
What skills did you learn and/or build upon during your internship?
I was lucky enough to be able to network with many different political figures and I also improved my multitasking skills.
What did you learn about the industry or your career path as a result of the internship? What are your future plans?
I learned that everything in the political world is very high stakes, especially during election season. I also learned that I thrive in this sort of environment, so my future plans are to work as a staff member for a politician or become a lobbyist.
What advice do you have for other students seeking out internship opportunities?
Utilize Handshake and advisors, these are amazing resources, and they should be taken advantage of!
