My Internship at the Bureau of Reclamation: Lower Colorado River Basin

I have known I wanted to work for the government since I began applying for law schools this past school year, and my experience at the Bureau of Reclamation solidified this and gave me crucial knowledge for my future career. Furthermore, interning at the Bureau of Reclamation, the federal agency known for managing water in the West, provided insight for my capstone project that was more specific than either of my disciplines of study had. Due to the sensitive nature of the documents I encountered as a Reclamation Compliance Records Intern, I cannot go into detail about certain elements of my work. Still, I am grateful that I learned about databases for research that are available to the public. 

This internship was unique because it did not rely on any certain education and I believe that it would be a great opportunity for a student of any major. Most of the project relied on critical thinking and communication skills, which can be used in any field. Although I do not know if I would work for the USBR after graduating from law school, I believe that I will work for the government and this internship highlighted the idea of stewardship seen in government agencies. This internship changed my relationship with the government, and I find myself more drawn to researching policy changes and government action in my areas of interest. 

My advice for incoming interns would be to learn to look around and appreciate the effort that goes into the infrastructure around you. After seeing so many documents discussing minute details of projects, it is amazing to see the monumental projects that can arise. For example, when I had the opportunity to visit the Hoover Dam (the part with restricted access) all I could think about was how much documentation probably exists for the project.