My internship this summer at the Vegas Chamber has benefited me immensely. This internship has given me an insight into what it looks like to work with a government affairs team that collaborates, and shares responsibilities. It has opened my eyes to Las Vegas politics, its government, its diverse community, and its involvement with many small and big businesses. Without a doubt, the exposure and knowledge that I have gained from this experience will benefit me in my future career solely due to the opportunity I was allowed to have this summer with an amazing organization like the Vegas Chamber, its stakeholders, and its members.
This internship ties into my major of study, political science, because the government affairs team at the Vegas Chamber is involved in the legislative process, the election process, lobbying, and much more. While there is an umbrella of things under political science, this internship focused on policies, elections, and the government at a local level. My major allows me to study much broader subjects, but learning more about my state’s governance was very intriguing and personal.
Some of the educational requirements I believe I need in order to be successful in this internship are the very basic life skills that college teaches us all along. Professionalism, communication, research, how to read, write, interpret information, and much more. While there are some courses that have taught me about various topics, I think that if anything during my internship, I learned that you have to keep learning, be up to date with many things, and always be open to different perspectives.
After completing my internship, I think that it only strengthened my perception of the path that I want to go in, career-wise. This internship took away any doubt about my want to be in this career field. This internship's exposure allowed me to further imagine a future career in political science.
During my time at the chamber, I think that one of the most reinforced things they would tell me was to keep networking. Education such as a bachelor's degree is important to have as well as perhaps experience with the field you choose to pursue, but I think that networking, getting to know people, being able to work well with others, and dedication is something I noticed will secure me a full-time position.
Going into my internship experience I was extremely nervous. I had no idea what to expect and if I would be a good fit for the internship I had chosen. Arriving on my first day at the Vegas Chamber, I felt a quick relief and comfort because everyone, especially my internship supervisor, was extremely welcoming. If I had any advice for incoming interns it would be to not stress about knowing everything. Internships are a learning experience that will help you grow and venture into a new space you are not accustomed to.
Follow up: After reading through many of my classmate's internship experiences and seeing what type of organization or business they worked for, I see myself doing another internship before my college career is over. I think that doing an internship is a very helpful resource to many including students who may need a boost of help to get out into the real world.