An Intern’s Journey to Self-Discovery 

By Alexandra Edwards

On Jan. 10, 2006, I embarked on a new stage in my life by starting my first internship at the American Association of University Women. I realize that many undergraduate students have had two or more internships by their junior year, however, I am traveling my own course, and this is my journey to self-discovery.

At Wittenberg University, a small private Lutheran school in central Ohio, I served as the secretary for Concerned Black Students, a social awareness group. The group shares the contributions of African Americans while cultivating diversity among students, faculty, and staff. While being involved in the group gives me the opportunity to engage in social justice initiatives on campus, I wanted to know more about social justice initiatives outside Springfield, Ohio.

With the aid of the Lutheran College Washington Semester, I am fulfilling my goal. I’m one of 48 college students who entered this program to discover the nation’s capital and test our ability to handle life after college. The former is not difficult as our internships place us close to the center of power, the White House. For approximately 14 weeks, I’ve been an intern in the AAUW Communications Department. I’m also taking two classes and performing other program requirements while experiencing life in Washington, D.C.

My first days at AAUW were all about "learning the ropes." I arrived at AAUW days before the press conference on Jan. 24 for the release of the AAUW Educational Foundation’s research study Drawing the Line: Sexual Harassment on Campus. With this project, I learned a great deal about the public relations demands for nonprofit organizations. Additional duties throughout the semester have taught me about the preparation that is required before and after the placement of the organization’s position on an issue or the release of a study to controlled and uncontrolled news mediums.

But the benefits of having an internship in Washington, D.C., go beyond the walls of the office building or lecture hall. The city itself is a giant classroom. I’ve been able to take advantage of all the city has to offer, experiencing it in ways that many D.C. residents take for granted. I’ve seen most of the landmarks, including the Washington Monument, the Capitol, and a number of the museums that make up the Smithsonian Institution. I also attended performances by the Alvin Ailey dancers and Bill Cosby at the Kennedy Center.

But I also wanted to have an experience that would allow me to interact with the community that makes Washington so grand. The Washington semester program requires that I attend a House or Senate committee hearing, take part in a protest or demonstration, and volunteer at least 12 hours at a community-based organization.

Hearing the testimony of New Orleans’ Mayor C. Ray Nagin during a Senate Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Hurricane Katrina was a humbling experience. Volunteering my time at a homeless shelter for women made me more aware of the scope and scale of poverty. Witnessing a protest allowed me to interact with citizens who find it their duty to promote social change.

My career goal is to help eliminate societal ills by working for a nonprofit organization. AAUW’s mission — equity for all women and girls, lifelong education, and positive societal change — is the bridge that will connect me with that life after college. My desire to see societal change in the world has come alive this spring.

The time that I have spent at the AAUW has allowed me to continue on my journey to self-discovery. My eyes are now open to the range of possibilities that await me after graduation.

Access the online press kit of AAUW’s Educational Foundation’s research study, Drawing the Line: Sexual Harassment on Campus.

Learn more about the AAUW internship program.