Unpaid internships

Northstarmom
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:45:16 +0000

"THANK YOU for pointing out the passion behind the activity. However, I feel like colleges wouldn’t understand that same feeling because I would be seen as someone who is “being told what to do” while other applicants are “doing”. "

Most other applicants are doing – what their employers or advisors or parents are telling them to do, including by doing activities just because others tell them to get involved in those activities.

You are learning about politics from the ground up the way that the successful politicians I know learned about politics. They started out doing the kind of things you’re doing, and often they started doing that at an older age than you are.

You are in a wonderful place to learn about politics and to meet a variety of people who are or will be important in politics. This includes some minor appearing people on the staff. Some of them will end up in high offices, and you will have some amazing contacts.

I think that what you’re doing is so important that years ago when I founded a youth leadership program, I offered all of the participants the chance to do an unpaid internship at the state capitol. I told them that even if they just answered the phones or opened mail, they’d develop a comfort around politicians and sophisticated insights into government that would serve them well in any field that they chose to enter

The same is true of you. While you’re there, get to know everyone and pick their brains, including asking their advice about other things you can do to be supportive and to learn about politics.

One way that you might be able to help them is to help out with their social media outlets. Often older people have no clue how to use social media, yet using it is very important in politics.

I also suggest that you keep a daily journal and consider using that as inspiration for your college essays.