I had been applying for summer internships since my six-week winter break, and it seemed as though there were no end in sight. Cover letter after cover letter, approximately 15 different versions of my resume, countless follow-up calls and e-mails and still nothing.
I stared blankly at my computer screen, analyzing a document I created to keep track of the 30 internships I had applied to. Each position was listed, along with its respective organization and the “yes/no/maybe” I had assigned it. Many organizations told me that they were only accepting post-graduate interns and, in light of the economy, many positions were eliminated. My chances of landing a dream summer internship weren’t looking so good.
And then, out of the blue, a friend sent me a job posting she found on LinkedIn. The posting was for a 90-day internship with the National Coalition on Health Care in Washington, D.C. While the position was targeted toward law and economics students, I was immediately drawn to what seemed like an amazing opportunity. I applied for the position that same day, had a phone interview two weeks later and was offered the position a few days after my interview. Today, I accepted the position, and I couldn’t be more excited.
I will be serving as the coalition’s public advocacy and strategy intern to help craft and implement its use of traditional and new media, as well as helping to improve its grassroots/grasstops communications with the public and policy makers. And after speaking with my future coworkers, it seems as though I’ll have plenty of creative room.
But the best part isn’t my relocating to D.C., working for a former counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice or being able to use Twitter at work. Because, for me, the best part about this position is the chance to work for an issue I am so passionate about.
That is why I became a public relations student in the first place. I had a desire to strategically bring to light issues that truly mattered, not to be a “spin doctor,” promoting non-necessities that won’t make a difference. To be a storyteller and to change the world.
And it hasn’t been easy. However, as James Carville once said, “the harder I work, the luckier I get.” How true.
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