I did my fall internship at Signs of Hope, a center for victims of sexual assault and abuse. I split my time between PREA (prison rape) and RISE (human trafficking) departments helping out any way I could. Signs of Hope gave me experiences and connections that are going to help me no matter what direction I decide to take with my career. My internship allowed me to work side by side with law enforcement and improved my communication skills due to my time on the hotline. My plan after graduation is to work at a government agency so my experiences at Signs of Hope gives me a running start for when I apply.
One of my biggest concerns before starting my internship as a political science major was how did the two relate. To my surprise, a majority of the concepts I learned in my classes were applicable to my training because both of them focused on intersectionality. The people marginalized in politics are the same people who tend to be victims that we support at our agency. Not a lot of prior education is needed but having a better understanding of marginalized groups allows you to be more empathetic and understand why certain things are happening.
One of the biggest moments that I reflect on often from my time at the office was when we would interview victims of human trafficking. Hearing their stories made me realize that I want to support them but felt like I could be more effective if I was on the side in charge of catching the trafficker. That is why I plan to apply to the FBI and more specifically their human trafficking program. More time in the field with law enforcement and improving my communication skills by manning the hotlines and letter writing with boost my effectiveness in this career path. Being a victim advocate grants me the ability to know what to expect when I progress in this career field.
One piece of advice I would give to new interns is to get your hands dirty. Taking whatever opportunity, they present you no matter how big or small it is. You will always learn something new so don’t pass on anything they offer you.
Wow, I loved how you described your experience. I am starting a new Research Assistant position in a lab that focuses on providing help for people after dealing with sexual assault. In turn, a lot of the people the lab encounters are women who are often susceptible to substance use disorders and anxiety sensitivity. The goal is to help these people! I think with your experience, you are serving a great duty providing service to people who have gone through tragic events and are vulnerable to further harm. I’m happy to hear you had a great experience at your internship which makes you want to go into a field that goes even further. I’m rooting for you and all of your success. Congrats on completing this semester!