WOW Fellowship Blog

When I began my internship at the start of June, I was excited, but I thought the two months and change of work I would be doing wouldn’t go by quickly. Yet here I am. Summer is ending, and with it, I am concluding my time with the Integrity Institute in the capacity of a Research and Communications Intern. 

When I think of what makes the Integrity Institute special, I have trouble assigning the title to one entity. As I end my time as a member of the staff, it is clear that everyone, both members and staff, are highly talented. Each staff member made a gesture of some kind that improved my internship experience, and for that, I am incredibly grateful. While the Institute’s staff is still in the single digits and growing, they can achieve whatever is set in front of them.

I just gave myself a perfect segway into what makes the institute so remarkable: its members. I may have given the institute’s members a brief introduction in my previous post, but I would love to give them more recognition in my final post. The institute’s members are talented tech professionals with a background in trust and Safety and/or integrity work and who use their valuable time to volunteer for the institute. Members will lead discussion groups, contribute original research, and develop content such as the podcast, which I had the pleasure of spending the majority of my time on. 

The Trust and Tech Podcast, led by Alice Hunsberger and Talha Baig, is a unique piece of media. When I started this internship, I repeatedly questioned how I, as a Philosophy major, could contribute to helping a think tank. This podcast was the answer. This podcast not only taught me about the world of tech policy but also helped me think about the problems that technical advancements such as open-sourced AI may cause for the world. In this way, I could expand my field of view on ethics and general issues of morality.

I have enjoyed my time on the podcast to the degree that I asked to remain on the team through the fall semester. Luckily, Talha said yes, and I have been “promoted” to Senior Producer of the podcast. As an editor and producer of the podcast, I have enjoyed the responsibility of being the final set of eyes on the episodes before they are published. I look forward to the different kinds of learning I will be able to experience this fall in this position. 

This internship has been a vital step in preparing me for the future. My position with the Integrity Institute developed countless interests, some of which I had no prior knowledge of. I now look forward to returning to classes with the opportunity to turn those interests into skills by taking Computer Science, Math, and Politics classes. While this internship currently doesn’t serve as the moment when I found the career I want to immerse myself in for the rest of my life, I feel very pleased with what I accomplished and thankful for the opportunity.

As my summer internship at the Right to Immigration Institute is coming to an end. I decided to interview my boss, Professor Doug Smith. This interview provided invaluable insights into the nature of his role, the challenges he faces, and the future prospects in the field. In this report, I will share the key takeaways from the interview and reflect on its impact on my understanding of social justice and advocacy.

Doug Smith’s responsibilities as the manager of a non-profit immigration law firm are diverse and demanding. His daily tasks range from overseeing office management and community outreach to engaging in fundraising efforts and supervising a caseload of immigration and human rights cases. Furthermore, he plays a critical role in coordinating the efforts of diverse groups, such as retired lawyers, students, refugees, and community leaders, to contribute their expertise and support the firm’s mission.

The position requires a unique skill set that encompasses legal knowledge and political acumen, as well as a range of practical skills like interviewing, negotiation, trial practice, counseling, and non-profit advocacy. Doug’s ability to navigate through these complex responsibilities underscores the importance of versatility and adaptability in the realm of social justice and law.

One aspect that struck me during the interview was Doug’s genuine satisfaction when the office is bustling with activity and the team is working harmoniously together. The tangible impact of their unique advocacy approach on clients and the community served as a source of motivation and fulfillment for him. It became evident that the work they do not only matters to him personally but also positively impacts the lives of those they serve.

However, Doug also candidly expressed the challenges and frustrations that come with the territory. Securing funding and recognition from certain organizations is an ongoing struggle for the firm. Additionally, dealing with students who join the organization sourly to boost their resume and don’t put in the work poses an obstacle to the advancement of the firm’s goals.

Regarding compensation, Doug revealed that he currently receives no salary for his role. While he mentioned that clinical professors and legal services shop managers typically earn around $100,000 yearly, it was evident that the nature of his work transcends monetary incentives. This selflessness and dedication to the cause of justice exemplify the higher purpose that drives individuals in the non-profit sector.

The career development path in this field appears to be unique for each individual. Many initially start by assisting the firm and then proceed to law school, other job opportunities, or further education. Accredited representatives, like Doug, who play a key role in the firm’s work, remain a rare but essential aspect of the field.

Doug’s optimistic outlook on the future of the field, particularly for accredited representatives, was inspiring. He believes that their role in promoting access to justice will significantly contribute to the field’s growth and development. This positivity reinforces the importance of maintaining hope and commitment when navigating challenges in the pursuit of social justice.

Doug’s career path was remarkable and served as a testament to the transformative power of experiences. From labor and community organizing to law school and teaching positions at various law schools, his journey reflected a profound dedication to breaking down barriers and making justice accessible to all.

Interestingly, Doug emphasized that while law school provided necessary prerequisites and legitimacy through a bar card, the most valuable skills and knowledge were acquired through experiential learning and real-life practice. This insight challenges the traditional notion of education and underscores the importance of practical training and learning from real-world encounters.

In conclusion, the interview with Doug Smith was an enlightening and transformative experience for me as a college intern. His unwavering dedication to justice and advocacy left a lasting impression on me. I am now more motivated than ever to pursue a career that positively impacts society and fosters meaningful change. The challenges he faces also underscored the importance of perseverance and adaptability in a constantly evolving field. This reflective report has given me deeper insights into the complex world of non-profit immigration law and reinforced my belief in the power of advocacy to effect real change in the lives of individuals and communities.

With just two weeks left of my WOW fellowship, the time is coming for me to say goodbye both to Avodah and to summer. Working at Avodah and becoming a part of their genuine and welcoming community has truly been a privilege. I chose Avodah partly because of the network I felt I would build by working at such a tightly-knit nonprofit, as even though my boss is located in New York, there are headquarters in Chicago. Unfortunately, my plan to work in person was foiled due to a serious injury that left me on bed rest for the first part of the summer. After my injury, I was deeply afraid that I would not be able to work in the same capacity, and even if I did manage to work, I was worried that I would not enjoy a fully remote position. Thankfully, I am proud to say that I proved my worries wrong. While my condition was certainly not ideal, I worked hard to adapt, integrating my physical therapy into my lunch breaks and scheduling my check-ups with my surgeon early in the mornings before work–a tough feat for a night owl! Instead of a summer sulking while on bedrest, my internship provided me with a remote outlet. More than that, it showed me how supportive and understanding people are at Avodah, something that I truly hope will remain throughout my work experience.

Interning at Avodah helped solidify my desire to work in the social justice nonprofit field. While last year I also interned at an incredible nonprofit, Chicago Community Loan Fund, Avodah’s focus on social justice and educational programming was especially meaningful to me as it combined my interest in academia and nonprofit work, the two fields I am currently torn between in my quest for a fulfilling career. Being able to see the difference my work makes is incredibly rewarding, and I know that feeling will only increase in more hands-on positions. By scrolling through my Asana (a collaborative to-do list resource that I highly recommend), I can see just how much I accomplished this summer, from database building to searching for prospective candidates. Additionally, I have seen how my internship has impacted Avodah, from the “high-fives” I have gotten from coworkers thanking me for assisting them on projects and bringing new insight, to the applications received from candidates that I sourced and contacted for the Jewish Service Corps. 

Although my time as Avodah’s Brandeis intern is coming to an end, I am excited for the future student who will fill my role next summer! If I could give them any advice, it would be to exceed what is asked of them and bring whatever unique skills and knowledge they possess to the table. For instance, I was able to go beyond my job description and assist Avodah in creating social media graphics since it is an area I have interest and experience in. I encourage future interns to fully partake in their company and to feel empowered to speak up, as even though it can be intimidating, you were hired for a reason! By embracing a confident mindset throughout the internship, you will be able to not only succeed in what is asked of you but go beyond and leave a positive impact!

I grew up with an artist for a mom and not only did I enjoy watching her paint or her lessons in drawing perspective, but I always loved making art in all its forms. I would make collages, write poetry and always doodle. Even to this day I doodle in the margins of my sketchbook or when I take notes in class. As the only creative intern at Brown Joy, I have only realized how much more interested I am in all the dynamics of being on a creative team, sharing my ideas and working in digital design. Having worked alongside my supervisor, Ms. Brown, I have gained confidence in communicating my ideas effectively and creating boundaries for self-care to ensure that I am not  overwhelmed.

Since I began my journey with the Brown Joy Team, I would have never imagined the knowledge and creativity I would be gaining from my time. While one of my many goals, to learn more program and software skills concerning digital art was not achieved due to its irrelevance in my current role, I had so much fun learning about digital design and marketing. From creating pitches for business partners and networking with Back to school programs to celebrating Brown Joy and its customers with social media posts, I have been so amazed at the success of the sales and the rate of engagement on social media and beyond.

Some other goals I had included building a stronger connection with members of the Brown Joy Team including the CEO, Miss Charminta Brown, who has not only encouraged me in my academic endeavors but has offered support beyond me being an intern such as looking at my resume and offering guidance in my career interests. I am very confident that I will continue to maintain contact with Ms. Brown outside of the internship and reach out with updates and questions especially as she is a successful Black woman running her own company and not to mention mom.

I have worked on many projects throughout the summer and I am most proud of creating a workbook for kids about design thinking. Design Thinking is a solution based thinking to solving problems we have in our world today. There are several companies like Netflix, Apple and Disney that incorporate this into their model and creatively for their products and Brown Joy wants to share this with kids. Towards the end of my internship I began working with Ms. Brown to create a workbook for kids aged between 7 to 13 to come up with their own ideas and essentially stimulate their creativity, imagination and innovation. I really love how the workbook turned out. I must admit during some days I did have some creative block so being able to work on the design and complete everything on time was really exciting.

I have also started to work on a pitch to Abbott Elementary, yes, the amazingly witty ABC hit series about teachers in Philly. I can’t give out too many details but this is something that is in the process of being created as it is important to acknowledge the series as many other network shows are on hold due to the writer’s strikes. I also want to say as a potential future screenwriter I stand with the writers strike and it is important that everyone working in the film and entertainment industry is treated and paid fairly!

And finally I would highly recommend this internship to any level college student interested in marketing and digital design. I did plan on having a more active role in drawing characters and while I was not able to work directly with making the stickers designs, I had an equally important (and fun) role in creating posters, social media posts and working on marketing materials that are not only used currently but also for the future. My advice for anyone who wants to work for Brown Joy as a creative intern or in a different capacity is to be yourself! I say this because Ms. Brown is an awesome human being, she is really understanding and empathetic so you should not feel the need to impress her or over-exert yourself. Just be you authentically and use your unique perspective on life to inform how you create. Working at a company that makes products to create diversity means that kids of color are the priority so I would encourage students of color in particular to apply or send their resume along because your voice matters. We all know what it was like for us as kids and not always seeing ourselves represented in stickers, on T. V or in literature.  Working for Brown Joy is just one of many chances to work to create a more positive and diverse future for kids everywhere!

As a legal studies minor with aspirations to be a lawyer, I had hoped that my internship this summer would give me the chance to apply knowledge from my legal studies classes outside of an academic setting, gain experience in a new field of law, and improve my communication skills with clients. I am now proud to be able to say I met these goals. Attorney Gbehan, the lawyer who I have been working with this summer, has thrown me straight into real-life, challenging, highly applicable legal situations that would typically require much more experience. I had the chance to use words that I vaguely remembered from my classes while drafting documents for or meeting with clients. I was able to see firsthand not only what they meant, but also what their purpose was in the world of law. The attorney also threw me into situations where I had to give clients case updates or ask them questions for forms with very little information about their circumstances. I had to be very adaptable and quick-thinking in order to obtain all of the necessary information and make clients feel confident in the firm. As I developed these abilities, my communication skills with clients improved greatly. 

Because this internship immersed me so quickly and completely in real legal work, it allowed me to very well understand what a career in law might be like. Because my firm consisted of only the attorney and I, I was able to gain insight into all elements of case processes instead of just one specific element within a bigger firm. I enjoyed thinking flexibly and employing problem skills to deal with case nuances, piecing together the necessary information to move forward with a case, and getting to know several different types of clients. However, working in such a small firm spread an extremely large amount of responsibility onto very few people and meant that I was working with fewer people than I would have liked. For my long-term career, I perhaps see myself working at a larger firm.

I am extremely proud of myself for being able to keep up with my demanding workload. Attorney Gbehan told me that legal internships are often very “sink or swim,” and I feel that I successfully demonstrated that I have the ability to “swim” in challenging environments. I have been pushed beyond my comfort zone, forced to ask questions, think critically, adapt quickly, work under pressure, and write with a completely new voice and style. I have now made it to a point where I am not only able to manage these demands, but have even grown used to them and been able to anticipate what my next tasks will be. I have always thought of myself as a follower who takes direction well, but had never fully realized my leadership and advocacy potential until this summer. I learned that I am able to take initiative, stand up for myself and my opinions, and figure out tasks on my own. I have even learned that I am capable of leading others, as I largely supported and trained another intern at the law office when she started four weeks after me. I remember this intern asking me for advice about the internship. I told her that it could be difficult, demanding, and even overwhelming at times, but if she persevered and just did her best, she would be surprised just how much she was capable of. Now, I would still give prospective interns the same advice. If you give yourself the chance to succeed, you just might surprise yourself.

Last Friday, I concluded my internship with the American Economic Liberties Project. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity to do meaningful work and immerse myself in the world of antitrust policy. 

In my first post, I defined my goals for this internship to be to learn as much as possible about corporate power and monopolies, as well as to understand the ins and outs of activism work and how nonprofits like AELP function. I’d say that, by and large, I’ve attained these goals – and something that is rather emblematic of this fact is that I catch myself applying what I’ve learned to examine examples of monopoly and corporate power in my own life. For instance, grocery shopping is no longer simply an endeavor to secure what I need to eat for the week – it’s also a case study into the illusion of choice caused by decades of grocery consolidation, and an examination of how these large retailers contribute to food deserts and play a role in shuttering mom-and-pop businesses. Ever wonder why you rarely see small, family-owned grocery stores nowadays?

This internship has also helped me solidify my interest in pursuing further opportunities at justice-oriented organizations or in various forms of advocacy. I’ve realized that I enjoy work that is centered heavily around research, writing, and communication – it was an immense privilege to be able to learn while working this summer (though this can be said about most internships in general) and to share my knowledge with the general public through producing written content.

In terms of my workplace identity, I’ve also learned that self-sufficiency and accountability are a few of my strengths. I was concerned at the start of my internship that, because it was fully remote, it would be difficult for me to motivate myself without others holding me accountable. However, because the work I was doing was interesting and fulfilling, I found that this wasn’t really an issue. Just as my self-motivation and sufficiency was beneficial to my experience, however, I found that it also led me to hyperfocus on a task at hand, at the expense of taking the time to speak with and get to know more people at the organization. As such, networking is something I’ll strive to prioritize in the future.

For folks who may be interested in an internship with Economic Liberties, here are two pieces of advice I can offer based on my experience this summer: First, don’t be afraid to speak up, ask for help, and have the courage to learn. Everyone at AELP, besides being incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about their work, is always willing to help and have a conversation about just about anything. More generally, in terms of working in this field or perhaps a nonprofit in general, understanding your own capacity is key. There’s always a million things going on in the world of antitrust enforcement, and while it’s important to keep up to date with relevant activity, cases, and investigations, it is completely okay (and necessary!) to temporarily block out what isn’t relevant to you so you can focus on a specific task at hand. This can certainly be hard to do, but I believe it’s important to honor your own capacity and know when you can get involved in or pay attention to something new, or when you have to dial in and focus exclusively on one project.

Overall, I had a great time with AELP this summer. I’m proud of myself for the vigor with which I approached this internship and how much I threw myself into the work. As with all new positions, it can be easy to be overwhelmed by a sense of unfamiliarity or inadequacy. However, coupled with a supportive and flexible working environment, I think my commitment to learning as much as possible made my time at AELP an incredibly rewarding experience.

Upon starting my internship at the Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab at UGA I hoped to get hands-on experience with the research process and practice with presenting research findings. Now that this experience is coming to a close I have not only gained an understanding of what being a researcher is like, but also many hard and soft skills like interacting with patients, troubleshooting the tools and methods of an experiment, how to code in R, how to set up, run and clean data of an EEG, and the thought process behind creating research questions and designing studies. 

One of the great parts I discovered about research is frequent adaptation and constant learning. Technology is growing rapidly, psychology is a relatively young field so best research practices change, the types of questions asked are constantly adapted to previous findings, and a lot of tasks in data analysis that used to be done primarily by people are transitioning to being done through algorithms. I have known for a long time that I love to learn, but this opportunity has shown me how much I value learning as a way to be engaged in the work I am doing. The goal of research itself, even, is to learn. 

The most valuable things I learned relating to my career path came from my assigned research presentations. Most weeks I was given a few readings from my mentor relating to the background of the tools or disorders we were working with, which I followed up with reading a few semi-related articles of my choice. I then presented my findings to my mentor and her other intern. Getting a lot of freedom to choose these areas of research helped me identify areas of research I am excited about, like Autism, Executive Function, and Theory of Mind. This will help me not only in knowing what jobs to apply for but also what I might want to focus on in academics or create my own research on. 

For anyone wanting an internship in psychology research, I would recommend finding somewhere with other researchers with various levels of experience and particularly a mentor who is excited to teach others. Having people around me who are at different places in their education and research journeys allows me to learn both from people who have a lot of expertise and also from people who can closely relate to the novice experience and provide models for how to improve in the short term. My mentor’s excitement and skill at teaching allowed me to feel comfortable admitting what I didn’t know and asking questions. At this lab and many other psychology research opportunities being adaptable is a very important skill. I was able to find success by noticing where I was needed and filling in the gaps. This was particularly important during data collection where we had a limited amount of time and participants to keep comfortable. 

This internship has been a fantastic experience thanks to my fabulous mentor, Beryl Huang, and the number of things I got to learn. When thinking about what I am most proud of I think about what was most difficult or scary for me. Two things, in particular, come to mind. I am proud of my ability to still enjoy myself when troubleshooting was frustrating or particularly long, and my ability to interact naturally with participants. I know these skills will not always come easily to me, but I am proud to find success when it happens.

As my internship at Lemelson-MIT draws to a close, I find myself contemplating the profound impact it has had on my personal growth and future aspirations. When I began this program, I stated that my goal was to “enhance my knowledge of ethnography and the strategies involved to identify and understand large systemic issues.” While I feel I’ve completed and fulfilled that goal by learning the qualitative strategies that come with ethnographic research, I came out of this internship with so much more than that. As I’ve stated, this internship was completely remote, so I worried about the connections I’d be able to make in a virtual environment. However, collaborating with my peers and engaging in group work became a pivotal learning experience, surpassing previous encounters in different settings. Our last week entailed writing up our research report and getting it prepared for publication. Considering this huge task was to be completed in one week, we needed all hands on deck. My co-fellows and I each took various leadership roles and responsibilities to produce an engaging and thought-provoking report. This experience was difficult, but immensely rewarding to see our hard work come to fruition. As someone who has always dreaded group work and group projects, I now go into them with a different perspective and value the ability to work with my peers to collectively accomplish our goals. 

Furthermore, this internship has proven instrumental in shaping my career interests. While I’m still unsure of the path I’d like to take, I now know how interested in pursuing research I am. I learned the value of delving deep into a concept and topic, and how much information you unknowingly discover. Embracing qualitative research opened my eyes to its intrinsic value and the communicative aspects that make it so compelling.

To prospective students considering an internship at Lemelson-MIT, I offer this advice: be prepared to push yourself beyond your comfort zone and work diligently. However, you will be supported by exceptional mentors, instructors, and fellow interns along the way. Many of us entered this program with limited familiarity with ethnographic research, however, we’ve all come out of this experience with an immense amount of knowledge of ethnography and its diverse applications. This experience provides an invaluable opportunity to engage in firsthand observational research and fully grasp the importance of qualitative studies in the field. 

Reflecting on my time at Lemelson-MIT, I take immense pride in my open-mindedness and adaptability throughout the program. Entering with minimal expectations and knowledge of the content, I fully embraced the fast-paced environment with hard work and determination. Undoubtedly, I cherish this experience above all else, as it has granted me lifelong friendships and connections in just six weeks. 

During my internship at the Child Mind Institute, I achieved all my learning objectives. Initially, I was apprehensive about working in the clinical side of psychology, where I would be supporting children with ADHD and Autism in enhancing their social relationships, academic performance, and self-esteem. I was concerned about my qualifications and whether I could meet the expectations set by my internship. However, I was determined to enhance my knowledge of clinical psychology and mental health counseling. After ten weeks, I was amazed at how much I had learned. By creating behavior plans tailored to each child and monitoring their progress, I witnessed significant growth in their behavior, attention, focus, and confidence. Most importantly, I witnessed their self-confidence transform completely. My learning objectives evolved as I focused more on changing the lives of the children I was working with.

Moreover, my internship helped me identify my career path. I am confident that I want to pursue a career in psychology, where I can help people develop self-confidence and become the best version of themselves. Although I enjoyed working with children this summer, I realized that I may want to work with other age groups as well. I want to focus my career on changing the lives of many individuals and helping them recognize the importance of believing in themselves. Professionally, this may entail pursuing graduate school or higher education to specialize in a particular field of psychology, such as developmental psychology or social psychology.

I have learned more about my role in the workplace and the importance of intent behind my work. I have learned the significance of working together to help a child succeed and the amount of communication necessary to provide individualized attention to each child. I needed to rest and recharge during my downtime, as all my focus and attention had to be on the children I was working with while implementing their tailored behavioral treatment plan. I am grateful that I am constantly willing to take on new tasks. I believe this quality will be beneficial in the future, as it allows me to try new things that I have not previously done in the workplace. Additionally, I have learned how much my enthusiasm and energy matter and are valued in a challenging workplace. My coworkers would approach me frequently to compliment me on the energy I bring and how I approach everything with enthusiasm.

To any students interested in a role as a Counselor at Child Mind or in the psychology field, I highly recommend this experience. Throughout the process, do not doubt yourself and know that you can make a difference in a child’s life. To the children I counseled, who are either 5 or 6 years old, I know they will enter this school year with the behavioral coping skills and tools they need to succeed. Throughout it all, I am most proud of knowing that I put my heart and all of my energy into this internship. I never took it easy, which is what I believe contributes to my love of the field. The psychology industry, specifically a role in developmental psychology, can be overwhelming due to the pressure you may feel on the influence you have on a child’s development. However, my advice, if you are interested in pursuing this role, is to know that you can do it and seek out psychology organizations such as Child Mind to determine if this is the right fit for you. I am aware that my career goals may change over time, but I am confident that this is something I want to dedicate my life to.

I learned through my internship at RCAO about the emotional element of prosecution. My education at Brandeis framed the legal system as a philosophical and intellectual duel between the attorneys, so I always saw litigation as a relatively dispassionate, rational, and scholarly pursuit. The reality of prosecution, however, is far more emotional than I originally anticipated. Every day, a victim comes into the office and breaks down while in a meeting with their prosecutor. The prosecutor, at this point, must help the victim collect themself while also trying to extract vital information. This is a delicate task because many of these victims bravely publicize moments of their life that are intensely painful and traumatic for them. So being a good prosecutor does not merely depend on the ability to evaluate and construct an abstract argument, but also a supremely challenging exercise in personal skills.

Specifically, the human element of criminal justice complicates matters for prosecutors in two ways. First, the effects of secondhand trauma weigh down prosecutors themselves. Studies show that professions which involve the daily experience of dealing with other’s trauma (i.e. attorneys and councilors) lead to negative health outcomes in those professions. Among other negative health outcomes, attorneys experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and addiction than the general population.

The emotional aspect of prosecution is further complicated by the formalities of due process. Many victims, for example, feel uncomfortable being in the same space as the defendant, particularly victims of violent and sexual crimes. Yet, the litigation process requires a victim to have some (albeit minimal) contact with the defendant. Some defendants have a right to attend depositions involving their case, although this can be negotiated between the attorneys. A victim also must share a courtroom with the defendant during a trial. Prosecutors, in fact, customarily ask the victim to identify the defendant at the beginning of their testimony. These painful experiences dissuade many victims from pressing charges and slow down the litigation process for those who do.

Continuing on this note, advice I would give to someone looking to pursue an internship like mine is to pay attention to the small details of legal interpersonal skills. My supervisor at RCAO, Rusty Chadwick, exemplifies these skills immaculately. Over a 30-year career, he has litigated hundreds of trials as both a defense attorney and prosecutor, and he has won an impressive percentage of those cases. Rusty uses humor, a relaxed posture, and a calming tone of wisdom in small meetings with clients and police officers. They become disarmed and relaxed which allows Rusty to get the information he needs to proceed with the litigation. When speaking in front of a judge or jury, he has an eloquence, assertiveness, and gravitas that leaves an indelible impression and strengthens his argument. Perhaps most importantly, Rusty is an invaluable and open (with what little free time he has) resource for his colleagues, who respect and see him as a leader. Rusty gets so many visitors that he had to reorient his office, with my help, to create more room for colleagues to enter his office and ask him for advice. The small detail of reorienting his office certainly speaks volumes about his mastery of the small interpersonal skills that make him such an effective litigator.

It feels strange writing my last blog post about my summer at Stepping Forward Counseling Center (SFCC). I am thankful that I had a fulfilling internship and that I learned so much from my campers.

My learning goals at the beginning of the summer included gaining more knowledge about different kinds of therapy and experiencing what it was like to work with kids who have severe mental and/or behavioral struggles. I learned about different kinds of behavioral therapy in the camp and participated in activities that were infused with therapeutic exercises. My favorite kind of therapy was DBT or dialectical behavioral therapy where the campers were able to focus on their emotions and accept themselves for who they are.

In terms of hands-on experience with the campers, I had more responsibilities and opportunities as time went on. I was asked to swim with a camper who has medical issues in the pool to ensure his safety. He soon warmed up to me so that he was willing to listen to my advice when he lost points for his behavior. When one camper was sent to the breathing room for his behavior, I was asked to sit and chat with him so that he could calm down and join the group.

This internship helped me realize that I want to be a therapist and work with people every day. While I was already interested in being a therapist, I had some lingering doubts. I feel energized and gratified after spending my days listening to people, helping them, and learning their stories.  I am not sure if I want to be a therapist for kids or adults. While I have always loved working with children, I think that a lot of the therapies tend to be behaviorally focused. My favorite kinds of therapy are more psychoanalytical and emotion-related which is more common for adults. By learning more about therapy for kids at SFCC, I realized what kind of therapy I like more, and I will research more on what population I want as clients.

This summer, I found that I liked to express my creativity within the workplace. When three of my campers wanted to draw instead of playing soccer, they were told that they had to participate in an activity that involved movement. I asked if I could lead them in improv games, and the clinical director said yes. The campers loved trying out vocal exercises, running around as characters, and performing scenes.
I would advise a student who is interested in becoming a therapist to take advantage of whatever experience they can gain working with different clinical populations. You may realize that you want to work with a different population or that you don’t want to work with people all day. It’s helpful to have these experiences early on so that you can learn more about what you want.

I am most proud of my connections with campers who had severe emotional and behavioral struggles. There was one camper in particular who had many behavioral episodes due to traumatic family history. He loves being silly, and I realized that I could motivate him with humor and references to his favorite singer and movies. I often can tell when he is about to begin having behavioral problems, so I go over and chat with him to make him feel better. I am so happy that I can be a supportive adult figure for him. The SFCC program is so vital for campers who have learned to distrust authority figures as it introduces them to caring adults.

My time with Jews for Racial and Economic Justice has been incredibly fulfilling and rewarding. It has taught me a lot about the inner workings of nonprofits, especially development and fundraising. It has been really interesting to see how my passion for equality and Tikkun Olam can be turned into a career of social justice work. I am inspired by the idea that I do not have to compromise my core values for a career. The most surprising aspect of my internship has been the validation I have felt as a Jew within the community that JFREJ has created for me. As a patrilineal Jew, I do not always feel welcome in Jewish spaces. JFREJ has helped me internalize the idea that there is no “right” way to be a Jew. I am grateful for the incredible people I have met and I am excited to continue being involved with the organization throughout the year. Last week, I had the opportunity to attend JFREJ’s Summer Membership Assembly, where staff and members gathered together. It was a wonderful experience where I felt very welcome despite never meeting most of the people previously. I feel very lucky that my internship has not only provided me with important experience, but also an amazing community.

To any students interested in working with JFREJ: do it! The staff is incredibly supportive and working at a leftist organization means you are surrounded by people who are understanding. Although working at nonprofits can often cause feelings of burnout, I have felt so comfortable communicating my needs with my coworkers. I have learned so much about development and nonprofits in general, and everyone is very open to answering any questions you have! And to any students interested in working with a nonprofit in general- it can be hard work but is an incredibly rewarding career path and there are so many options within it. When I tell people I plan on working in the nonprofit sector I usually hear quips about how I won’t make any money and all that. Don’t listen! Not only is it not entirely true, it is important to let your morals and passions guide how you spend your life. There are so many different types of nonprofits, so do not get discouraged if your first experience is not entirely fitting.

Overall, I am the most proud of my willingness to step up and try new things, the thousands of dollars I raised for JFREJ, and my ability to ask questions. I am also proud of my time management and ability to remain engaged during remote work. My team has been amazing, and I am so lucky to have had such a supportive group of coworkers that made me feel appreciated for my hard work throughout the summer. I know now that although the development area of nonprofits might not be for me, I have enjoyed the interpersonal communication aspect of my internship.

Wow! The time has really flown by, and I have already completed the final days of my internship at the National Consumers League. I am so grateful for my time working there, and the skills I have gained as a result of it.

I believe that I completed my learning goals set at the beginning of the summer. A huge goal of mine was to just gain professional experience, and I would say I accomplished that! Working within a team in a professional setting has taught me more about Work Life and I am grateful for that exposure! While this internship really broadened my horizon, especially to the world of advocacy work, I do not think I necessarily want to be working in health policy specifically.  I did however love the advocacy role of my internship, and I believe I would want to pursue other jobs within an advocate role sometime in my future career. I found that I tended to be focused on how women and health intersected, within my role. I think should I continue with advocacy work, I would focus on women and menstruators and the issues they are facing as a group.

I think this internship really showed me my strengths and weaknesses. This summer has been one of self improvement and growth, and my internship undoubtedly contributed to that. It highlighted for me, both, what I excelled in, and what I still need to work on regarding my professional skills. I also realized that as convenient as remote opportunities are, I would prefer to work in an in-person setting. I don’t want to be missing out on that environment, and preventing myself from growing even more.

If I were giving advice to someone taking this position in the future, I would stress time management and also communication! Especially because of it being remote, there is chance for miscommunication and not being on the same page, so being prompt and attentive is a must! For someone going into this industry, I would say, put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid to put your ideas out there, and make your presence known! Consumer advocacy work is all about fighting for the people, and you can’t do that unless you’re willing to put yourself out there and get into the work.

This summer, I am most proud of my growth and self-improvement. Taking the time to invest in myself has been so valuable, and has made all aspects of my life better. Constantly growing and learning has allowed me to do better work both in and out side of my internship. My internship allowed me to have the structure to focus on myself. I have learned so much about myself, what I want to do, and how I can grow and learn more this summer. Going into this school year, I am more refreshed and ready than I have been in a long time. I am grateful for everything this internship has taught me, and the skills I will have forever because of it.

Thank you for following along my blog posts, it has been amazing to write about my experiences this summer!

– Grace Lassila

Throughout my summer internship with the Queer Sex-Ed Community Curriculum, I was able to achieve most, if not all, of my original learning goals. I mainly wanted to become an expert in newsletter writing and social media management for the organization, and I believe I met this task. In fact, I recently sent out the end-of-July and noticed that our mailing list subscriber count officially reached over 200 people. Seeing quantitative evidence of my effectiveness in this role means a lot to me and makes me proud of what I have accomplished. 

As far as clarifying my career interests, I believe I was correct in thinking I would want to work for a queer organization. I love the inclusivity and accepting nature of the organization as well as our ability to speak openly with each other about somewhat controversial issues. The LGBTQIA+ movement is also very dear to me which has not changed. Thus, working within this field allows me to have an impact on a social movement that I aim to support. 

However, I did learn some very important factors of the workforce for me to keep in mind moving forward. The main aspect of this internship that I would change would be how closely I worked with my supervisors. I think that moving forward, I would want more guidance in my positions. This internship was very self-driven, however, I believe I would have preferred to have outlined tasks and jobs to complete rather than developing everything from scratch independently. I also look forward to an in-person opportunity in the future to see if this helps my feeling of involvement with organizations.

For anyone looking to get involved in the non-profit industry, I would recommend finding an organization that focuses on a movement you are passionate about. Most organizations are relatively small meaning you will do a lot of work and research on one niche area. If this area is not one of interest, then this work will not feel as fulfilling. Also, do not be afraid to ask questions. The people at your organization will love to talk with you about ideas you may have or answer any questions that come up. 

This summer, I am most proud of my increase in newsletter writing ability. Before working for this organization I had not created a newsletter from scratch, and now I feel very confident being able to do so. I am also proud of the initiative I took within this organization, both in getting this internship, but also in suggesting my own ideas and making my mark on QSECC. Below is an example of a post I made for their Instagram account! 

I cannot believe that we are nearing the end of the summer. I have learned so much from my time as an intern at Bikel Rosenthal & Schanfield. Looking back at the start of the summer versus where I am now is wildly different. I came into this internship excited, but nervous to learn about the world of work and specifically what it meant to work as a lawyer. The big question looming over my head was the question of whether or not this was a career that I could see myself excelling at. I had been on the debate team in high school and I love a good argument but I had no idea if I was actually cut out to be a lawyer. My experience at Bikel Rosenthal & Schanfield taught me a lot about the inner workings and day-to-day experience of being a lawyer but even more importantly it showed me that this was something I could do and succeed at. My goal of determining if this was something I could do while feeling fulfilled and happy was accomplished because the work I did this summer made me feel fulfilled and happy. I was able to work hard with ease throughout the summer because I knew I was getting important work done.

I have definitely learned a lot about myself in the workplace. I learned a lot about what it takes me to get through a day of work. While on campus I was usually only eating lunch and dinner but I learned that, when I am waking up early, in the workplace I need to eat some type of breakfast to fuel myself in the morning when I am usually at my slowest. I learned that some kinds of music can help me be very productive while others actually can distract me from the task at hand. I also am a very social person and it was interesting to see how important being social in the workplace is to getting work done. On days when I spent less time interacting with others I noticed that I had a harder time getting work done. Spending a couple of minutes speaking with a coworker always meant that I would return to work energized and excited to finish the task at hand.

If I was asked to give advice to a student, interested in working at either my host organization or in my field/occupation, I would share with them the most important advice I received over the course of my internship this summer. “The devil is in the details”. This was a piece of advice that was repeated to me many times over the course of my internship and it is a piece of advice that I endorse as essential. In the field of law, every single detail matters. Even if it is something as simple as a proper spelling of a name on a motion it is important that each and every detail is double and triple checked. The reason for this is that a lawyer is only as good as their body of work. Someone who is careful to ensure that every detail is correct will succeed because they can be confident that they are not missing anything.

I am most proud of the fact that I contributed to helping people in a very challenging part of their lives. I am proud that my research and my hard work were able to make a difference in people’s lives.

Thoughts on my Position So Far

As I continue my internship at Stepping Forward Counseling Center (SFCC), I am excited by the hands-on experience I gain every day at work. As an intern, I have the opportunity to work with kids with mental illness and behavioral problems, rather than just reading or researching about mental health. Recently, I have been given more responsibilities and found new ways to connect with my campers. When one camper acts out, I am sometimes asked to guide or entertain the other campers while the head counselor helps the camper handle their emotions. Some of the campers are more anxious and nervous that the other kids do not want to spend time with them. When one camper told me that he felt left out when the other campers ran ahead of him to a water slide, I asked a different camper who was also quiet to look out for him. The two campers then went down the water slide together, and the socially anxious camper was thrilled.

While I knew that SFCC is a therapy program, I did not fully comprehend how therapeutic techniques are seamlessly incorporated into every activity. Whether it is swimming at the pool or petting donkeys at a farm, the campers are reminded to work on their goals. One of my favorite therapeutic activities was a drawing project. The campers were asked to draw a “Rock Brain” on one side of a paper and write a sentence about something that makes them feel stuck. On the other side, they drew a “Rex Flex” and wrote about a way that they can deal with their “Rock Brain.”

How the World of Work Differs from my Life At University

The structure of my day in the work world is different from my academic schedule as a student at Brandeis. In school, I have classes a few times a week and lots of homework throughout the week. At SFCC, I work from 8:45 am-3:30 Monday to Thursday. My work day takes more energy than sitting in a classroom but I love that when I come home, I am free to do what I like. I especially love that I have no homework on the weekends. In school, I spend a lot of time sitting at a desk inside and listening to a professor’s lecture. At SFCC, I spend my time talking to the campers and going outside to different places, such as the SFCC garden.

While work can be exhausting, I feel fulfilled and energized by my campers at SFCC. It takes a lot of energy to focus on helping the kids all day but I feel gratified when I see the campers grow.

Skills I am Building from this Internship and How They Relate to my Future Career Plans

As someone who dreams of becoming a therapist someday, I am thrilled that I am learning therapeutic skills through my internship at SFCC. The staff at SFCC are careful to use therapeutic language when speaking to campers. If a camper earns all their points one day, the staff says “all points earned” rather than that it was “a perfect day.” The campers are told that they are never “in trouble” but that the staff are here to help them when they struggle.

In the various therapeutic activities, the campers discuss different coping skills that they can use to regulate their emotions. Some examples include counting to ten, deep breathing, taking a break, and listening to music. Now, when a camper struggles, I remind them of these coping skills. When one of my campers was upset that she could not find her water bottle, I took deep breaths with her before we continued to search.

Something relevant to my internship I learned at Brandeis was the unit, “Why do we punish?”, in Professor Lenowitz’s amazing Legal Theory seminar. This was the second unit of the class, and it entailed a survey of the different philosophical justifications for criminal punishment. Professor Lenowitz introduced this topic by emphasizing the necessity to justify punishment because, after all, its goal is to deliberately inflict suffering. This creates a fundamental paradox: how does a state-sanctioned harm rectify an individual harm? A potential solution to this problem, proposed most elaborately by J.S. Mill, is deterrence theory. It contends that the state must punish criminals to prevent that crime from occurring again. Deterrence, in this scenario, takes two forms: general (punishing a criminal deters others from committing this crime) and specific (punishing a criminal deters the same criminal from becoming a repeat offender). The other most popular school of thought is retributivism, the argument that a criminal should be punished out of a commitment to morality or justice. While retributivism dates as far back as criminal punishment exists, H.L.A. Hart created its modern incarnation.

This topic is very pertinent to my internship because prosecutors carefully consider what type of punishment they request to impose on the criminal. This is because they must justify every aspect of the punishment, in detail, to the judge. When attempting to justify the requested sentence, the prosecution makes very specific appeals to both theories of justification — along with other theories. Contemporary jurisprudence, however, seems to favor deterrence theory based on my limited experience. This could have dire consequences if taken to the logical extreme. First, deterrence theory fails to establish a connection between the criminal and the crime. A hypothetical scenario raised by Professor Lenowitz best illustrates this objection; what if a supercomputer created by the DOJ determined that the best way to deter domestic violence was to lock the victim’s grandmother in jail for five years? Deterrence theory also cannot account for proportionality; suppose the same supercomputer calculates that the optimal deterrence to jaywalking is to chop off the offender’s right hand. How does that gruesome punishment fit the insignificance of the crime? Finally, deterrence theory says that a criminal should only receive punishment if it maximizes utility. How should legislators and jurist respond if the supercomputer said that sexual assault cannot be deterred with any criminal punishment? If they were devout utilitarians, they would have to legalize sexual assault, a decision that would clearly unleash myriad disastrous consequences.

Now, retributivism has serious logical and moral shortcomings as well. It placates the primal human urge for revenge when the legal system presents itself as, and should be, the peak of sophistication and decorum. White supremacist groups have also co-opted the retributivist school in recent years, according to fantastic scholars like Erin Kelly. The modern criminal system obviously combines aspects of both theories. Judges account for an incredibly broad scope of factors when determining the appropriate punishment for a crime (unless the punishment is entirely determined by statue), but I feel the judicial system should re-evaluate its current dependence on deterrence theory.

In academic life, I am often nagged by the feeling that what I’m learning doesn’t have practical applications at the level I am learning it. These last few weeks at the Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience Lab at UGA have proved that wrong. 

At Brandeis, I study both psychology and computer science, and I get a lot of questions about how those fields overlap. Computer Science more and more proves invaluable to scientific research. This past week I learned a new programming language R and was able to convert a huge Excel spreadsheet into a PDF of neat eye movement position and velocity graphs (pictured below). 

(raw data Excel file and graphs generated from code)

I was surprised by how straightforward picking up this new language was for me. Since I’ve had a few years of coding experience I knew what actions were possible and was able to think like a computer enough to generate a working algorithm. The purpose of this algorithm is to analyze the eye movement data for the Cognitive Flexibility project I am working on with my mentor Beryl Huang. Now that it is complete we can use this algorithm to do the hard work of processing the eye movement data for each participant in this study. 

In addition to the eye movement data for each participant, we also will have data from the EEG that is tracking the brainwave activity. In this coming week, I will be trained on how to score this data so that we can process it once we start gathering more participants. 

(raw EEG data)

I am excited to be learning so many things so far. In addition to learning how to set up the EEG equipment, learning R, and beginning to score data, just being around the lab is a great way for me to understand more about statistics and analyzing data. In our weekly lab meetings, I am able to watch data analysis troubleshooting, and data presentation. This helps me understand the thought process behind data analytics. 

  Psychology research thus far seems like a field that likes to keep you on your toes. You might encounter a lot of unforeseen difficulties with things like data management and analysis, equipment functionality, and translating data. This means that you are always learning and adapting. It is not for the faint of heart, but I have never been one to back away from a problem that needs solving and I am excited to keep doing so as I continue to work with this lab.

Closing in on nearly two months at the CORELAB, I can say this has been a time of immense growth and learning. As I move forward in my time here, I am gaining a better understanding of the process of developing, furthering, and completing a full fledged research project. 

My experience here has undoubtedly challenged my expectations in many ways. Coming into the lab as an aspiring engineering student, I was very focused on developing my skills in biodesign. However, over time, I became exposed to various aspects of outcomes research. At first, I thought the niche medical topics many projects dissected were not relevant to my focus, but with time I have come to see their value particularly in understanding healthcare disparities. My first exposure to scientific writing has been on a paper on the impact of inter-hospital transfer on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and how it affects the heart-lung lifesaving procedure. This paper nicely parallels the prototyping project I am working on for designing an ECMO catheter tube. Working on these biodesign and outcomes projects simultaneously has improved my understanding of the implications of the procedure of ECMO.

Collaboration has been at the core of my experience so far this summer, both in and out of the lab. The CORELAB is associated with The Center for AdvancedSurgical and Interventional Technology (CASIT) here at UCLA. CASIT conducts innovative research and education in simulation-based training, aiming to improve minimally invasive procedures while providing state-of-the-art surgical education. A new building was inaugurated on campus this past month which will soon house parts of the CORELABas well as other collaborators of CASIT. I had the chance to attend the opening ceremony where various biomedical technologies were featured. It really was a celebration of the future of medicine, with displays ranging from surgical simulatorsto VR training to a robotic patient who is designed so realistically he can even urinate (for educational purposes of course). Our lab also had a station at the event where we set up a pig heart to beat on its own with the help of a pressurized machine (whenever people stopped by the station we told them it was a human heart, of course). The backdrop for our station was a video of highlights from the lab that I assembled myself. This project was a fun way to get creative while showcasing various aspects of the CORELAB’s work and its members.

My World of Work consists of a robust mixture of undergraduates, medical students and residents, as well as our engineer-turned-doctor supervisor, Dr. B. Unlike the relatively structured environment of university life, the lab is a very self-directed environment with people coming in and out the whole day. While centered around cardiac outcomes, the range of topics is vast, with projects such as injury risk, prototyping, and plastic surgery. Proposing a new project is really a matter of running the data to see if it is viable and getting the green light from Dr. B.

Given this flexible environment, and somewhat unexpectedly, I am planning on expanding my experience in the CORELAB beyond this summer. While developing my skills and knowledge with my Brandeis classes this fall, I will also continue to do some remote work, even potentially attending a conference with the lab in the spring! I’m excited to see how this opportunity will continue to push me and lead me to grow as I enter this third phase of the summer.

During my time at Brandeis, I’ve had many opportunities to delve into core social justice concepts, specifically the concept of intersectionality. Intersectionality, a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, recognizes that individuals hold multiple social identities such as race, gender, religion, class, and that these identities interact to create complex and varied experiences of privilege and oppression. In both the classroom and beyond, I have learned how intersectionality is relevant not only to societal dynamics but in my community. This understanding has been significant to me as it has profoundly influenced my thinking about Avodah’s work and my approach to my internship. 

While working at a Jewish social justice organization, embracing intersectionality is essential for promoting social inclusion and creating a supportive community. Acknowledging the varied experiences of individuals within the Jewish community allows Avodah to tailor programs, initiatives, and policies that address their specific needs. This emphasis on intersectionality is demonstrated throughout Avodah’s programming, particularly in their creation of a JOC Bayit (Communal home). The JOC Bayit is an affinity space within the NYC Service Corps  designed to offer a celebratory Jews of Color-only community that can specifically nurture the growth of Jews of Color. Through programs such as the JOC Bayit, our community can better recognize and respect the intersectionality of Jewish identities, allowing Avodah to foster a sense of belonging as well as ensure that all voices are heard and valued.

Moreover, my awareness of intersectionality inspires me to actively seek out diverse perspectives, both within the organization and in the broader Jewish community. By engaging with individuals who have different intersecting identities, I gain valuable insights that enrich my work and contribute to Avodah’s ability to address the complex issues facing the community. One of my main projects as the recruitment intern at Avodah has been to help build upon Avodah’s Spanish-Speaking network as many of the fellowship placements in Chicago require a working knowledge of Spanish. One of my tasks was to create a map of Spanish-Speaking communities and their hubs, specifically searching for Synagogues with Spanish programming, Jewish schools in areas with a large Spanish Speaking community, etc. While doing this mapping, I thought about the layers of Jewish identity and how these research tactics were mainly focusing on white Jews who knew Spanish, rather than looking into the strong Jewish communities throughout South America. After reflecting on the fact that my Synagogue in Chicago– Lake Shore Drive Synagogue– has a congregant body primarily composed of immigrants, I decided to reach out to South American immigrants from my own network in order to see what connections they could provide, not just in America but also in their countries of origin. By reaching out to my personal contacts from my community, I hope to not only include Jewish members with different backgrounds in Avodah’s recruitment pool, but to embrace them for what their intersectional identities can bring to our community and to Avodah’s mission. 

Hi everyone! So far my internship has adhered to my expectations as far as workload is concerned. I knew my internship would be very self-guided and that my ideas would be valuable in this organization. Per my suggestion, I have been recently posting call-outs on my organization’s Instagram story looking for other organizations with similar missions to spotlight in our upcoming newsletter (which I am also the one creating) as well as looking for partnerships for upcoming Zines. Within this organization, I am treated like a partner rather than an intern which I greatly appreciate. I do not feel as though my ideas are not taken as seriously as others, in fact, I am given similar responsibilities and opportunities to my mentors. I feel very thankful for an experience like this where I can gain perspective on what it would be like working for an organization such as this full-time. 

My work for this internship differs greatly from university life in that it is very independent. A lot of my workload is self-assigned based on my ideas and suggestions. It is also up to me to speak up and request meetings or reach out to others for help if needed. This is different from academia where professors often assign work and follow up. In this internship, I am expected to be self-sufficient. It is also expected that I will reach out if I need anything rather than having my mentors reach out to me. This is a very valuable skill that this internship is leaving me with. 

As I enter the workforce, I cannot always expect bosses to offer their guidance unprompted. Instead, I must become the adult that I am and take it upon myself to advocate for what I need. This internship is teaching me that my voice matters and is respected. Any time I have asked for guidance or any other help I am given it right away without being made to feel a bother. Instead, I am being treated like any adult with a job position requiring training. This will help me in the future when I am placed in similar non-profit organizations where they may be short-staffed or simply unable to check on my every move. It is important that I learn how to advocate for myself and succeed in the workforce. 

Aside from this, I am also learning many useful social media and newsletter creation skills. I am becoming proficient in working with Wix as well as how to maintain a professional yet colloquial social media presence. When working for social media for a professional organization, it was hard to learn how to chat with other organizations through such an informal avenue such as Instagram direct messaging without actually being informal because our conversations were still professional. This skill will help me in the future because I intend to remain in the digital media realm of the non-profit sphere. 

I have officially reached the midpoint in my summer internship with Brown Joy and I am so excited to share some of the projects and experiences I have had thus far. Upon starting I was a bit worried about being overwhelmed as I was balancing volunteering, work and class in addition to my internship. Luckily my screenwriting class ended last week and I am more than happy to report that in my position as a creative intern, I am not overwhelmed.

I am a rising junior and Brown Joy is my second official internship but it is a lot different than I had previously anticipated. Different in a good way. Last summer I had an opportunity to work with the Boston Kids International Film Festival as an unpaid film intern. My work was to review films based on cinematography, writing and creativity. The time flew by and by October my internship had ended. In recent months I have been able to be more present thanks to the WOW Fellowship for Social Justice blog posts, which allow me to reflect on what I am doing as an intern.

Some other differences from academic life have been the flexibility in my schedule and my ability to contribute my ideas for increasing engagement with media and attracting more customers to Brown Joy. 

I have also enjoyed getting to know Miss Brown through my internship weekly meetings. She has always greeted me in our meetings asking me about my day or my class. And not only did I discover that she is amazing at multitasking, very understanding and incredibly busy (after-all she is the CEO) but she has a very tight knit community and is very connected. My favorite thing is hearing about how she is connected to others, whether they be friends, churches, or community members. 

Initially upon accepting the internship position, I was looking forward to creating whether in a more artistic direction or digitally. I have mainly been working on creating a pitch in the format of a newsletter. The purpose in creating pitches was to spread news about Brown Joy to Back-to-School programs and other non-profit organizations to create partnerships and garner more sales for Brown Joy. I worked on providing a pitch and summarizing what Brown Joy is and a pricing sheet for Brown Joy products. In my time I have learned more about using Canva and utilizing various forms of communication such as creating marketing materials through email and social media copy. I am an avid Canva user and I have been able to learn more about color scheme, tones and palette  and its importance in reflecting Brown Joy. In all my designs I try to make them as colorful as possible and use a bright palette to keep potential partners interested. I have enhanced my communication skills and gained confidence in sharing my ideas, which is important regardless of whether you are in a classroom or at work. I learned about a business’s behind-the-scenes operations and marketing techniques, as well as maintaining our customers’ happiness. Lastly, I have developed an eye for digital design and plan to use that to create logos and assist future brands on campus on and off.  

Wow! The summer has already flown by. I am more than a month into my internship at the National Consumers League, with only 2 weeks left of it! I have thoroughly enjoyed my time so far, and I will definitely be sad when I say goodbye!

I wanted to reflect on my position and everything I have been working on so far! When I first started my internship, I was excited, but definitely nervous about my position. Over time though, I was able to get into the flow of work here. I have continued to work and tackle the goals I had set out at the beginning of my time here. I am still actively working on the website refresh, as well as writing blog posts on health related topics! My internship has been a little different than I expected. While I have loved the flexibility of the remote work, I was worried I would not be engaged in the same ways as an in-person internship. However, I have been pleasantly surprised! Working closely on projects, attending meetings, and participating in brainstorming with various team members has shown me that even though I am remote, I am still an important member of the team. I have enjoyed my work so much, and I have learned so much about health policy as a result. Recently, I got to watch the summer convening of the Health Advisory Council, a member-based council of outside partners who want to support the work of health advocacy, education, and research. There was a panel discussion about the role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers and so much more. I was so grateful to be included in such important work by NCL. The entire thing was organized by my boss, Robin Strongin, who I work closely with.

The WOW, or World of Work, has been so exciting. To me, it is completely different than academic life. In school, often there are extremely clear guidelines for work and expectations, that at times can even be constricting. However, I have thoroughly enjoyed work life, because there has been more freedom with it. Even though I have projects, how I take them and make them my own has been really fun, exciting, and challenging. Not having grades has also been an interesting change. Most of my work has been with writing and research, and I feel like instead of pressure to just get a certain mark, I feel fueled to just put out something that I am proud of. Also, because the projects I have been working on are somewhat long term, I like going back and improving what I had done before. In school, you usually only have one chance to get something write, but with my work here at NCL, I like getting that chance to improve and make it even better.

I have gained a lot of confidence here at NCL. I often suffer from imposter syndrome when it comes to new roles and projects, but my boss, Robin Strongin, has been such a excellent mentor and collaborator. I have felt incredibly supported, and learned to trust myself and my instincts. I keep having to remind myself: “I am here for a reason!” While I’ll be sad to leave my internship, I truly believe I will be able to take my newfound confidence wherever I go.

Until next time!

– Grace Lassila

When I first heard about a group called Jews for Racial and Economic Justice based in New York, I knew that I would be a great fit, although I was not entirely sure what to expect. I am so grateful to be working with such a wonderful group of people united in passion for making the world, and New York City especially, a more equitable and just place for all. Since my role is in the Development department, a lot of my work is focused on fundraising and membership. When I first heard about my role, I was worried because I did not think that fundraising was the part of the nonprofit world that I was interested in, as I am terrible with all things related to numbers. However, I am now really excited about my work and it feels wonderful to know that what I am doing is important and is having a direct positive impact. Furthermore, it has been amazing to learn about all aspects of how grassroots organizations function.

Of course, the World of Work is vastly different from life at Brandeis. In general, there is much less freedom in aspects such as deadlines, group work, and time management. Luckily, this is not my first time entering this world and I felt prepared. It also helps that JFREJ is a leftist organization that respects that all people work differently! However, this position is unlike past jobs that I have had because it is fully remote. Although I was definitely worried about remaining engaged while working remotely, I love the flexibility that virtual work allows for, and I have been able to take some trips and work from various locations! I have felt connected to my coworkers and have gotten to spend plenty of time with the best coworker, my cat, who loves to interrupt my Zoom meetings.

The greatest part of this internship has been the growth I am experiencing. I am learning many new skills and gaining experience in more familiar areas- including using Every Action, a database for nonprofits, becoming more familiar with Google Sheets, Slack, events planning, mail merge (my personal favorite!), and of course, perfecting the art of the phone call. Working remotely has strengthened my time management skills and sense of responsibility, and team meetings help me feel connected to the cause and allow for some amazing brainstorming sessions. It is comforting to know that the skills I am gaining and improving upon now will stick with me throughout my career journey. I plan to continue working in the nonprofit sector, and having experience in multiple areas within this field is really helpful. Fundraising is a crucial aspect of all organizations, and I know I will continue to use the knowledge I am gaining. My interpersonal skills are also improving through the dozens of phone calls I make each week, which will hopefully help me in some of my on campus ventures. Along with my position, I have been joining JFREJ’s biweekly “Move Money Build Power” meetings on Zoom, which has been an amazing opportunity to meet more members and to work with an incredible group to make a difference. Hopefully, I will be able to meet the JFREJ staff and lots of members in person later this month! As the end of my internship is about a month away, I am sad to leave but know that I can continue to be connected to JFREJ as a member, and I am not saying goodbye to these people for good!

Almost three weeks into my research fellow position at Lemelson-MIT, my perspective on ethnography and qualitative research has shifted enormously. The past few weeks have been a tremendous learning experience and have exceeded my expectations. Before beginning my internship, I expected to jump straight into observations, interviews, and report writing. However, the first two weeks were all training and learning the complex facets that ethnography offers. While I’ve had minimal amounts of experience with ethnography from anthropology courses I’ve taken at Brandeis, I learned ethnographical and observational concepts that I’d never fully comprehended before. I had this realization after those two weeks of training, learning, and homework because we are finally putting that knowledge to use, which I’ve never had the chance to do. Although this position is entirely remote, my concern about the lack of communication has completely vanished. Throughout my days of observations, I look forward to debriefing with my team every day and having enlightening conversations about our different perceptions and observations of the LMIT Biotech in Action Program. This position has been a delightful surprise, as I was unaware of the content and data we’d be learning and eventually seeking out.  

With that said, my experience in this internship simultaneously replicates academic life yet places me in a position to implement my training and findings. For example, the first two weeks of my internship were filled with training, lectures, homework, and discussion posts – fairly similar to my academic life at Brandeis. However, in the past week, I’ve put that knowledge to use, which courses often fail to provide. I’ve been partaking in daily ethnographic observations of LMIT’s invention education program and have noticed my knowledge of ethnography being utilized effectively. What is wonderful about this internship is that although the first two weeks were dedicated to training and learning an unfamiliar subject, I am still learning as I continue to work and observe. I take concepts I’ve learned and apply them to different situations every day and expand my notions of those concepts through observing differing content. 

World of Work has allowed me to translate my academic knowledge and findings to assist in crucial research on education. The feeling of putting findings into fruition is exhilarating and has changed my perception of the rigor involved in learning and academia. It’s difficult to continue pursuing an education with little knowledge of what remains in the future. Programs such as WOW have given me a better understanding of what post-college work might entail and have given my studies a purpose.

The largest skill I’ve gained from my internship thus far is how essential communication in the workplace is. As this job is remote, we’ve encountered many barriers to communication such as cameras turned off, inability to read body language, etc. Especially when you’re conducting ethnographic research and attempting to observe others, it can be quite tricky to do so in a completely virtual setting. However, this internship has taught me that communication is a necessity in the workplace. The reason I am working on observations with eight other fellows is so that we can tackle challenges and barriers together. Understanding the workplace is understanding you’re never alone, and I look forward to carrying that mindset with me throughout my academic and future careers. 

As I contemplate my time at the Right to Immigration Institute, my mind is inundated with a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts. Immersing myself in the realm of U.S. immigration and asylum law felt like venturing into uncharted territory, replete with uncertainty. However, this experience has proven to be not only enlightening but also transformative in unexpected ways.

One of the most remarkable realizations has been the stark contrast between the world of academia and the sheltered confines of university life. While at Brandeis, I delved deeply into the intricacies of the U.S. legal system, where justice, equality, and the rule of law served as the bedrock of my education.

Nonetheless, it is here at TRII that I have encountered a distinct facet of this system—the U.S. immigration system. This intentionally convoluted system poses challenges even to the most seasoned legal professionals.

The work we undertake carries immense weight and significance, as any misstep could have catastrophic consequences. The lives and safety of our clients hinge upon the approval of their U.S. asylum applications. Recognizing that our efforts can make all the difference for those in dire need is both humbling and awe-inspiring, underscoring the responsibility we bear as legal advocates who fight for the rights and protection of marginalized individuals.

Fundamentally, this experience has honed my research and analytical abilities, sharpening them to a razor’s edge. Navigating the labyrinthine maze of immigration law necessitates meticulous research, a discerning eye for detail, and the ability to decipher intricate legal precedents and statutes. These skills will undoubtedly serve me well in my future academic pursuits as I delve further into the realms of law and policy, seeking a deeper understanding of justice and societal change.

However, it is the human element that has left an indelible mark on my soul. Directly engaging with clients has refined my communication skills and enlightened me about the power of empathy. To genuinely comprehend the hopes, fears, and dreams of those we assist, active listening and heartfelt communication are paramount. The capacity to distill complex legal concepts into digestible information is vital, enabling us to bridge the divide between the legal realm and the lived experiences of our clients.

This newfound comprehension and empathy have ignited an unwavering commitment within me—dedication to social justice and human rights. Witnessing the systemic obstacles and injustices faced by immigrants and asylum seekers has sparked a passion that extends far beyond the boundaries of this internship. I am eager to channel the knowledge and skills I have acquired into tangible actions, both within the academic sphere and broader society. By actively participating in advocacy and activism, I aspire to contribute to a world that embraces inclusivity and strives for positive change.

In conclusion, my time at the Right to Immigration Institute has surpassed all expectations, unveiling profound insights into the complexities of the U.S. immigration system and the profound impact of our work. This experience has nurtured not only my legal acumen but also my capacity for empathy and understanding. The skills I have cultivated throughout this internship will undoubtedly shape my academic pursuits, future career endeavors, and engagements within social justice initiatives. As I witness my own growth, I am humbled by the opportunity to be a catalyst for change in the lives of those yearning for refuge and protection.

There are many things that surprised me about my position. As an intern with BIDMC, I’ve had the opportunity to shadow other departments I’m interested in learning more about. One such department is the prenatal genetic counseling department, which is located in the Center for Maternal and Fetal Medicine in the hospital adjacent to the Center for Life Sciences (where the CTU is located). When I started this internship, I never thought I would learn so much about genetics or be exposed to Genetic Counseling in the way that I am. So far, I’ve had the opportunity to speak to a genetic counselor and to shadow an actual appointment.

I’m also surprised by the nature of the lab structure. Both within the CTU and its associated lab (the Barouch lab), there are many areas of specialization. Within the lab, there is a team that focuses on immunology- they analyze the blood samples collected during the clinical trials run by the CTU. The CTU appears to collaborate most closely with the Immunology group. The lab also has groups and teams that work with virology, proteins, TB, and cancer. Meanwhile, within the CTU, different staff members take the lead on different studies. Here, I will outline the current observational studies being led by the department. The biorepositories involve the collection of biological samples such as blood, breastmilk, and nasal swabs to use for future studies. The biorespositories currently being run at the CTU are ones for Covid-19, Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox), and studying immunity in infants. The latter, known as the Infant Vaccine Biorepository (or IVB for short), is really cool and novel! It studies the passage of immunity from birthing parent to baby. We very rarely see clinical trials with infants, but at no point was it clearer than Covid the need to know vaccine and immunity information about pregnant folks and infants. (It was actually the Covid-19 Biorepository that helped us realize that Covid vaccines didn’t harm, and in fact helped, the health of pregnant patients.) The IVB is conducted entirely over the phone and through mail so people from all across the country spanning demographics who otherwise wouldn’t be able to participate are involved. A device is sent through the mail to safely collect a very small amount of infant blood to be analyzed.

I’m grateful to be able to build skills and add to my career toolbox through my position. I’m taking away a deeper understanding of the clinical trial process, and why finding a drug, vaccine, or other advancement in the health sciences takes so long. Being an intern at the CTU has also helped me hone in on my interest in pursuing genetics as a future career. I’m finding myself to be really interested in hearing about genetics during meetings. Additionally, after shadowing genetic counselors and speaking to them about the profession, this is the path I can most see myself doing at the moment. Through this experience, I’m also taking away more knowledge on the dynamic(s) between pharmaceutical companies, labs, and clinical groups. This awareness may help me make more informed decisions in the future, as I’m considering working in genetics research and/or genetic analysis as well.

When people think of the District Attorney’s Office, they often think of cruel prosecutors, unfair sentencing, and years of incarceration. I, like many, went into this internship skeptical of our current legal system, and felt unsure about the future of law enforcement and criminal sentencing. However, the San Francisco DA’s Office (SFDA) has given me a lot of hope for the direction government institutions may be headed, though there is still important work left to be done.  When I began working day-to-day with victim advocates, I learned that SFDA, unlike other prosecutorial agencies, has established resources such as the victim services division and collaborative courts- which work to help victims and offenders alike instead of simply sending people to jail unfairly. The Victim Services Division specifically works with crime victims to identify services, housing, and other forms of restitution. Similarly, the collaborative courts system seeks to rehabilitate those who have committed crimes through classes such as anger management and drug rehabilitation, and to decrease the overall rate of recidivism. Though the District Attorney’s Office still has a long way to go when it comes to championing the safety of its community, it most definitely has been taking strides in the right direction, and can serve as a progressive example for other DAs’ offices around the country.

My experience with the World of Work fellowship has most definitely differed from university life, as my workday mainly centers around active participation in the work of victim advocates in the office, and having the chance to directly impact the lives of victims of crime. This hands-on experience can at times be difficult, but is also incredibly rewarding, as I have learned so much in a short time, and can apply what I have learned in a meaningful way. It has also been a fascinating window into what life could be like as a full-time victim advocate and whether one day I would pursue that field further.

This internship has also given me the opportunity to build a variety of different skills. The most unexpected, and perhaps most essential, is the ability to seek out work and ask for help when I need it.  Especially since I work in one of the larger divisions of SFDA – with many levels of supervisors and managers – it has been very important for me to not only be willing to do the work put before me, but go as far as to find additional work within the unit myself. Finding problems to tackle, and then developing a familiarity with those recurring tasks and issues has been one of the most important ways for me to become an asset to the office, and continue to learn and grow. A crucial part of taking on these larger tasks is also knowing when the problem may be too large to face alone. Getting help from my supervisors and my peers has been an invaluable resource and skill that I hope to continue to cultivate, as it has allowed me to both solve even the most difficult problems, while also building trust and companionship between myself and others. I plan to try applying these skills both in my academic life at Brandeis, as well as any later internships, and my eventual career.