“I absolutely feel like I gained valuable professional experience and am better prepared to enter the workforce,” says Madison, a political science student who partook in The Washington Center internship program. She acquired an internship with the Near East-South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA). The program at TWC is more than just an internship, it also offers fundamental opportunities for students that foster academic and professional achievement, leadership and civic engagement. One of the great features this program has to offer is that although you might have to pay out of pocket for it, as a student enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours at a Florida University you can receive an $8500 scholarship to cover expenses.
With that being said, being accepted into the program wasn’t a difficult process with the support from the Office of Experiential Learning and other UCF resources. The application process required students looking to grow exponentially as an expert to prepare all application materials carefully. These materials include a resume, a statement of professional interest, two letters of recommendations, your transcript as well an essay that reflects a key issue in your professional field. As most students arrive in college, they enter with an idea of a career path, but getting accepted in to the TWC internship program can benefit the premise of your education and bridge the gap between theoretical study and the professional world.
When looking back at her experience in the courses she took, the class selection that was offered had an exceptional variety from Middle Eastern Studies to seminars that provided useful information to students. Being there, Madison gained many great advantages to being exposed to real-world experiences like working for the Department of Defense which was her greatest memory. Working there provided a chance for her to explore the city while being taken on excursions to find meetings and participants on tours.
All in all, TWC helped place Madison in an internship that was the right field for her. She now can utilize those skills learned to gain self-confidence and improve significantly the level of job offers that come upon graduation and says, “My plans are to find an entry level job in my career path.” After all, one of the greatest benefits of an internship is to ensure you obtained the most while better preparing students who are more desirable to employers and ready to meet today’s challenging work environment. Any advice that Madison would give students hesitant about pursuing an internship during college would be to take every opportunity that is presented and enjoy it to the fullest. “Get out and explore the city, make connections, have fun, and balance leisure with work while taking something positive out of all situations.”