After spending the day researching the careful steps Ireland follows to maintain their international neutrality, I felt I had learned more in that one day than I had in the entire previous semester. This would be the first of many speeches I would write throughout the semester and the experience never got any less thrilling. Beyond allowing me to improve my research, writing and editing skills, this part of the internship improved my professional confidence immensely. While I expected to enjoy working in the parliament, I could not have predicted how much of an impact this work would have on my future career goals. Even though I love politics, up until this internship I was set on attending law school after graduation and becoming a lawyer. While away from the competitive campus of UCLA though, I was able to self-reflect and recognize that there were many other political careers I had not considered. Mr. Ryan allowed me to try a little bit of everything and, after my experience, I have developed a strong interest in pursuing a career in speech writing or policy research. Beyond the professional development value of this internship, I was reminded of the awe-inspiring power that elected representatives are given and how that power, when used correctly, can make the world a more peaceful and equitable place.
Beyond allowing me to improve my research, writing, and editing skills, my internship improved my professional confidence immensely. While I expected to enjoy working in parliament, I did not predict how much impact this work would have on my future career goals. I was set on attending law school after graduation, and I was able to reflect and recognize that there are many other political careers I hadn't considered. After my experience, I've developed a strong interest in pursuing a career in speech writing or policy research. More than the professional development, I was reminded of the awe-inspiring power that elected representatives are given and how that power, when used correctly, can make the world a more peaceful and equitable place.