Despite these successes, the biggest challenge in the internship I encountered was far from any personal discomfort— but fighting self-doubt within myself. As we got started with the work, I kept fighting a nagging feeling of imposter syndrome; the idea that I, as a college kid from the United States, was tasked with helping resolve domestic human rights issues in Chile made me feel strange. After realizing this international presence throughout Chilean judicial briefs, I came to a realization about my own role as an international human rights advocate: I was merely one component in a long-established process of international collaboration to combat these kinds of abuses, as opposed to an American meddling in what should be domestic political affairs. After this epiphany, I found it easier to engage with the work I was entrusted with, and upon completing my assigned cases, our cohort was able to finish our work and compile the master report which was eventually presented to the Undersecretariat. Never have I experienced a rush of pride as satisfying as seeing our report in the Undersecretariat’s hands. The feeling I had, of doing everything I could to advocate for people like me, I know now that I want to feel that way again– and it has spurred a new direction of legal advocacy that I am certain will be a worthwhile endeavor in my life.
The biggest challenge I encountered was fighting self-doubt within myself. The idea that I, a college kid from the US, was tasked to help resolve human rights issues in Chile made me feel strange. Eventually, I realized I was one component in a long, established process of international collaboration to combat abuses. Never have I experienced a rush of pride so satisfying as seeing our report in the Undersecretariat's hands. I know now that I want to feel that way again, and it has inspired a new direction of legal advocacy that I am confident will be a worthwhile endeavor in my life.