As a Thomas R. Pickering Fellow, an honor that I received with assistance from the staff of the Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research, I had the privilege of interning at the Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs (more commonly referred to as the China Desk) at the State Department this past summer.

Although it is probably every intern’s dream to do more than just copying and shredding papers at their internship, with only a B.A. degree under my belt and no previous government-related internship experience, I started my internship on the China Desk with minimal expectations for my assigned responsibilities. Contrary to my expectations, however, my summer internship was filled with a multitude of challenges that enabled me to apply my knowledge to a real-world setting, as well as endless opportunities for direct engagement in the policy-making process.

During my first month on the China Desk, I was already excited and satisfied when tasked with attending and reporting on meetings both within and outside the State Department and drafting replies to incoming Congressional correspondence. Supporting the China Desk Director, Deputy Director and Desk officers at these meetings helped fulfill my goal of witnessing and engaging in the interagency policy-making process first hand.

As an aspiring diplomat who has always been immensely interested in China affairs, particularly U.S.-China relations, being able to read the latest updates on their bilateral relations and see diplomats negotiating right in front of my own eyes was indeed a major treat. Yet, at the time, I did not know that the highlight of my summer was still awaiting me.

As we hit July, my office was getting busier and busier and before I knew it, I was part of “Erica’s (the State Coordinator for the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, often referred to as the S&ED) Army.” Along with the other interns on the China Desk, I was excited to just have the opportunity to work on a very high profile project. After all, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner, their Chinese counterparts, State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Vice Premier Wang Qishan, as well as many other high level American and Chinese officials were participants.

Initially we devoted our efforts to editing and compiling briefing materials for senior State Department officials to use in high-level negotiations, but soon we were entrusted with responsibilities interns could only dream of having! Our 9-hour workdays eventually turned into more than 12 hours ones. From providing logistical support and advanced coordination to meeting high-level officials from the Chinese Embassy in preparation for the S&ED, I was especially overjoyed to have the opportunity to practice being a diplomat in a real life setting.

When the S&ED, which took place in Washington, D.C. from July 27 to July 28, finally occurred, I was privileged to witness first-hand American and Chinese officials discussing a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues that carry strategic and economic implications for U.S.-China relations in both the short and long-term. My optimism for the future of U.S.-China relations was emboldened when I noticed diplomats of both countries cooperating with each other to address shared interests while acknowledging the differences that exist in the relationship.

To sum it up, my summer internship on the China Desk was truly an experience of a lifetime. Although my involvement in the S&ED, especially being able to shake hands with Secretary Clinton and the two top Chinese officials at the Dialogue defined my summer, the unending support and guidance that I received from everyone on the China Desk helped make my experience there truly memorable. This experience also reconfirmed my interest in international affairs, especially U.S.-China relations, and my desire to pursue a career in diplomacy.

Thao Anh is a recent graduate of the Elliott School of International Affairs, where she double majored in International Affairs (with concentrations in International Politics and Asia) and Asian Studies. In 2007, she studied abroad in Hangzhou and Beijing, China and is currently on a Fulbright grant in Yanji, China conducting research on the role of the ethnic Korean community in facilitating Sino-North Korean relations. Upon her return to the U.S., Thao Anh will pursue a Master’s degree in Public Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

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This summer, I was awarded the extraordinary opportunity to intern at The Voice of America (VOA) in Washington, D.C. As an Intern in the Public Relations Office, some of my responsibilities included contacting various media outlets interested in creating feature stories about VOA, drafting press releases, giving studio tours, and promoting VOA’s events and broadcasts on social media and networking sites.

The Voice of America is one of five entities in the International Broadcasting Bureau, which is funded by the United States government. VOA’s programming is broadcast in 45 languages across the world via radio, television, and the internet, particularly in countries where there is a clear and apparent absence of free press and media.

The Voice of America’s mission since the organization began in 1942 has been to broadcast reliable, objective, and comprehensive stories to audiences which now total over 134 million people across the globe.

During my internship, stories that VOA covered included President Barack Obama’s trips to Russia, Ghana, and Italy for the G8 Summit, the political coup in Honduras, and the elections in Iran. VOA’s broadcasts received increased attention with the events after Iran’s presidential elections; nearly 25% of Iranian adults watch VOA programming each week. Iranians on the scene sent their own personal videos and photos to VOA, increasing the role of citizen journalists and enhancing the credibility of the broadcasts.

The Voice of America, while not known by many Americans, is easily recognized by other nations around the world. Broadcasters at VOA are often considered celebrities by their audiences, just as we would recognize our local broadcasters on Channels 4, 7, and 9 here in Washington.

Voice of America is not only the largest U.S. international broadcasting organization, but also serves as a pulpit for describing U.S. policy to countries around the world. Stories describe the lifestyle and culture of Americans; these “Americana” stories give insight to global audiences about the United States and its people.

Interning in the Public Relations Office provided a unique opportunity to watch various radio and television broadcasts from the many language services at VOA. As a student with an interest in journalism, witnessing live broadcasts and news firsthand was an unforgettable experience.

I was able to draft press releases and write my own stories about Voice of America that were posted on the organization’s website. The topics of my two stories included the use of Social Media when covering the reactions to President Obama’s address in Cairo and the Spanish Service’s exclusive story about the winner of an award from the Cartoonists’ Rights Network International.

Voice of America’s internship program extends throughout the organization, with over eighty interns working in the language services, the Newsroom, engineering, and public relations. The interns at VOA came from various colleges and universities across the United States and were able to meet with the managing editor of Voice of America and a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors.

I would encourage all students to obtain an internship during their college years. Internships allow students to recognize their own interests and to gain real-world work experience while continuing their studies.

Not only was I able to work along side the full time staff in the office, but also I was given my own tasks and projects. Interning at the Voice of America increased my interest in journalism and the study of international affairs. I have an even greater awareness and appreciation of the role of media in diplomacy and the shaping of international policy. The Voice of America continues to fulfill its mission in airing impartial and credible stories to its global audiences while providing them a vital outlet to voice their thoughts and firsthand accounts of the events in their countries.

Caitlin is an International Affairs major at the Elliott School of International Affairs. Originally from Philadelphia, she is a member of the Class of 2012. She plans to concentrate in International Economics and European/Eurasian Studies. At GW she works in the Marvin Center, writes for The Hatchet, and gives tours to prospective students and their families through the STAR program. She worked with the Student Activities Center this past summer volunteering as a guide for the freshmen pre-semester co-curricular program Experience D.C.

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Well summer time is right around the corner, and while many people already have solid plans for their summer, a lot of us don’t. Not having any classes makes it easy to get lazy, and before you know it… September has arrived, and your entire summer is gone. A key lesson that I wish I had had instilled in me early on was the value in maximizing every aspect of the summer, not just to relax, but to also advance my educational and career goals.

With that in mind, there are a few things that both upper and lower classman should keep in mind before heading into the summer. While there are no hard and fast rules about what makes for a “good summer,” there are definitely a few different avenues that can help you fully capitalize on all of the opportunities the summer months can provide.

These are a few main points to keep in mind.

If you can, find a field-contextual job or internship.

Yes, this is always easier said than done. And seeing as it is already May, if you haven’t found a job or internship already you will probably have a difficult time finding one now. Nevertheless, as you approach the end of your college tenure, it is vital to use any and all opportunities you can to gain valuable work experience. It is this kind of work experience that can help set you apart when you enter the job in the near future. Anything that can help to set you apart from your peers when you’re going for that dream job right out of school is absolutely worth sacrificing a few lazy months for. Of course, on top of that, finding a great job or internship is a great way to have fun and involve yourself in the professional field you’re most interested in. It’s a win-win from every angle.

Keep up your foreign language!

I’ve personally found this to be one of the more challenging aspects of the summer months. For anyone studying a foreign language (and most of us in the Elliott School are), those few months of no classes in the summer can really do serious damage to language progress. There are a few ways to tackle the problem though: if you’re staying in D.C. over the summer, the city itself offers a number of opportunities to use your language skills with other speakers. A city with the diversity (and number of universities and colleges) of D.C. enables you to find others with which to practice your language in the summer months, giving you the chance to at least moderately stem the inevitable regression of your language in the absence of classes. Another option to is simply continue taking classes throughout the summer.

If you’re in D.C., GW obviously gives you the ability to keep taking classes to enhance your language skills. But if you go home, check out any local universities or colleges that might offer classes in your language. If you think you can pull it off, traveling to country/countries where your foreign language is spoken is perhaps the best way to practice your language. Bottom line: engaging in even a little bit of practice over the summer can help to keep you a step ahead of your peers when you get going again in the fall.

Study for graduate exams.

If you’re an upperclassman, the summer months provide no better opportunity than to brush up on the GRE, LSAT, GMAT, MCAT, or whatever standardized test you might need before applying to grad schools. The abundance of extra time most people have in the summer makes for the perfect chance to get yourself ready to take that oh-so-critical exam that you’ll need to take the next step up to grad school.

These are just a few of many options available to students to utilize the summer in a way that advances your goals. Taking classes to kill those dreaded GCR’s, doing non-profit work, conducting field-contextual reading, writing, and research, along with a whole host of other opportunities ensure that no student has an excuse to let their summer slip away. Just don’t get to the end of your summer and look back and wonder what, if anything, you did that was at all productive.

The summer is one of the best ways to distinguish yourself from your peers, and prepare you for your post-GW life….don’t let it go to waste!

Alex is a junior majoring in International Affairs and Asian Studies.  He has studied abroad in Beijing, China, and hopes to continue studying East Asian relations in graduate school.

By Jenny Schuch

This year I was lucky enough to secure what I considered a dream internship at the U.S. State Department.  After almost four years of studying international affairs it seemed like the best way to culminate my experience in D.C. and apply what I have learned in the classroom about U.S. foreign policy.

The internship application was due about eight months before I planned to start the internship and involved an extensive process including a security background check – probably how they deter most prospective interns.  My year studying abroad in Japan and academic focus on Asian Studies earned me a position as the intern for the South Korea Desk in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

The State Department always seemed like a “cool” place to be with its high profile officials and diplomatic activity, and once I started I realized that it really was that and even more.  Not only have I been immersed in U.S. foreign policy towards a volatile region (my office includes North Korea), I have been able to actually contribute to foreign policy and meet people working at the highest levels.  While I may not choose to take the Foreign Service Officer Test immediately, this experience has been incredibly valuable as I plan my professional future and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in foreign policy.

Jenny is a senior in the Elliott School, majoring in International Affairs and double concentrating in Asia and Conflict & Security.  She is currently interning at the U.S. State Department and plans to conduct a fellowship with Volunteers in Asia while working for an NGO in Indonesia after graduation.

We hear it all the time: one of the biggest advantages of going to school at GW is the litany of field-contextual internship opportunities, especially for Elliott School students.  But even in a city with such limitless possibility as Washington, D.C., it can still be difficult to know the right path to take when it comes to finding the perfect internship.

Based on my own experience there are a couple things that every student should know about getting an internship in D.C.

First, if you’re a freshman or a sophomore, you’re probably not going to be able to get your ‘dream job’ quite yet. The simple fact is that employers are often looking for upper-classmen for the better positions if they’re even looking for undergraduates at all. However, this is not a reason to lose hope. We may joke about it here at GW, but Capitol Hill truly is in many ways a pre-requisite for higher positions in D.C. Getting an internship in your Congressman’s office is often possible regardless of what year you are as a student.  It gives you a solid base of experience from which you can build, a good reference for future positions, and something to fill up your resume.

Once you can establish your ability to hold down a job somewhere like a Congressional office, it greatly increases the chances of getting an extended look from other employers later on. I’ve found that some of the best opportunities an international affairs student can find in D.C. are with any one of the many think tanks that base their operations here. No matter what you’re interested in, D.C. will have a think tank specializing in it. This is a fantastic way not only to work in an area you are genuinely interested, but it also gives you field-contextual experience and contacts that could prove to be invaluable later in your career.

Different think tanks will have different application procedures and duties, but a quick visit to their web sites and maybe an e-mail or two here and there can have all your questions answered in no time. Seek out the ones that deal with subjects you are most knowledgeable and interested in (presumably the field that you’re studying). These organizations are always looking for a smart and enthusiastic helping hand, and will almost always be quite flexible with scheduling.

Starting with something small and menial like an internship on the Hill might seem boring or not worth your time, but just remember that everyone has to pay their due, and everyone has to climb the same ladder. Going from something like the Hill to a think tank can then lead to that phenomenal government agency or consulting firm job. The key is to always think with the future in mind.

Alex is a junior majoring in International Affairs and Asian Studies.  He has studied abroad in Beijing, China, and hopes to continue studying East Asian relations in graduate school.

Ed. Note: For more information about internship and job opportunities available to Elliott School students, visit the Career Center.