I was given the opportunity this summer to perform research at The Young Lab at the University of California, Santa Barbara, a lab focusing on community ecology and conservation biology. I was tasked with leading a new experiment on tick survivorship and how it is influenced by global warming. As the lead undergraduate researcher, I developed the general experimental methodology, constructed the experimental infrastructure, and collected and analyzed obtained data. Additionally, I lead field installations and deployment of tick units each weekend at UCSBs experimental research sites at Tejon Ranch.

I experienced all of the frustrations and joys of conducting my own research project; I have learned that failures are inevitable when performing research. However, I also found that learning from failure will often lead to success, as was the case for me. This experience allowed me to develop invaluable research skills as well as my appreciation and respect for the field. Moving forward, I am excited to write about and hopefully publish my findings by next summer; I had never dreamed of being a published author before I had this opportunity, and I am so grateful for that. I also plan to return to UCSB and present my research findings at a conference next summer.

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This summer, I had the opportunity to work as a legal intern at The James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy. This is a non-profit legal organization in Evanston, Illinois. The staff included attorneys, grantwriters, social workers, and communication experts, all of which served as my mentors throughout my internship. I formed strong relationships with the attorneys at the Moran Center as I would often accompany them at hearings and help prepare client research for their trials.

The Moran Center specializes in seeking restorative justice and taking an integrated social work and legal approach to serving juvenile clients. This proved quite interesting and rewarding when observing how the attorneys and social workers collaborated to aid clients. The tasks I performed during my internship at the Moran Center were both refreshing and fascinating. During a normal work week, I would rarely spend more than 2 whole days in the office. Similar to the attorneys at the Moran Center, I would go to courts around the Chicagoland area to either observe or help clients in the expungement and sealing process. I found my time working at the Moran Centers Expungement Help Desk located in the Cook County Municipal Courthouse one of the most rewarding components of my internship. Being able to use the legal knowledge I learned from previous experiences and training from my internship to directly impact clients gave me a sense of autonomy.

Developing a strong relationship with the attorneys during my internship and as a result, communicating with clients was extremely insightful. It gave me a deeper look into the legal system and how it operates, especially, for juvenile offenders. Furthermore, my work at the Moran Center gave me an understanding of the shortcomings, inequities and perplexing policies in the legal system that I would like to further explore. More positively, my time at the Moran Center gave me hope for the future of our justice system, as Juvenile convictions and arrest have been greatly decreasing. Though I am not sure whether I want to pursue family law, the practice of law in general intrigues me and I am grateful for this experience.

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This summer I had the privilege of working as a press intern for Senator Charles E. Schumer in Washington, D.C. Senator Schumer’s unique role as not only the senior Senator from New York, but also as the United States Senate Minority Leader, allowed me to gain exposure to both state-wide and national governance. My primary tasks as an intern for Senator Schumer’s press team consisted of compiling daily news-clips packets, drafting and revising press releases and talking-point memos, and taking calls from local and national reporters. I also regularly attended press conferences and events at which Senator Schumer and other members of congress spoke.

My time on Capitol Hill provided a first-hand look into the United States political process, as well as some of the many nuances of political communications. With Senator Schumer’s dual role, I had the opportunity to engage with the broader Democratic caucus, while simultaneously being reminded that all politics is local. Working closely with members of the press team, such as the deputy press secretary, provided valuable insight into the different roles that staffers play on the Hill and the many different ways the policies may be achieved and promoted. It was an honor to intern for Senator Schumer and work alongside a staff which remains dedicated to using our political process forthe betterment of our nation.

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This summer I had the opportunity to travel to Benin City, Nigeria to work on my company NaSo. NaSo is a clothing brand that takes elements of West African Culture and American Culture and marries them. We apply West African Ankara fabric to minimalistic, chic designs. However, NaSo represents more than just clothing. At NaSo we take a portion of our profits and renovate schools in rural African villages, providing necessities such as desks, chairs, proper roofing, and bathrooms.

During my time in Benin City, I was able to work with local tailors to produce products for both men and women. I also had the opportunity to go to the rural village where my father grew up, Urhokuosa. While there I was able to visit our first school to be renovated, Okuosa Primary school. This experience helped me gain valuable insight into the world of entrepreneurship. I learned first hand how valuable it is to build personal and meaningful relationships when working with others towards a common goal. I am going to bring this venture to Kickstarter this fall with the goal of expanding the brand.

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This summer I was able to travel down to Bocas Del Toro, Panama to work with a medical mission group called Floating Doctors. Floating Doctors was started 8 years ago with the purpose of delivering healthcare to indigenous communities that lacked access to hospitals, doctors, and healthcare in general. They are based out of an island in Panama and each clinic day we would take boats to the Ngobe communities. The Ngobe are the native Panamanians, many who live without running water or electricity. There are full-time volunteer doctors, nurses, and paramedics who work with the program and I was able to work as a translator for these doctors. I was exposed to healthcare in its most basic form this summer. I was able to see doctors treating patients hands on, without any politics, insurance conflicts or discrimination. These experiences have motivated me even more to chase my dream of one day attending medical school and becoming a physician.

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This summer I worked in the lab of Dr. Ken Jacobson in the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

The lab studies the structure-activity relationship of G-protein coupled receptors and small molecules. In this, I was tasked with the synthesis of various new drugs to work as antagonists against a specific type of receptor. The receptor I worked on has been implicated in the inflammatory response in relation to asthma as well as certain types of liver diseases and cancers. Through my work, we were able to add to the library of known compounds that antagonize this receptor and help elucidate leads for better treatments of these diseases.

At this experience I was able to further develop my abilities as a chemist, learning new ways to troubleshoot and problem solve. I was able to experience the environment of a large academic lab as well as work alongside accomplished scientists and postdocs who were able to guide me through my project. In the future, I hope to continue as a professor of chemistry.

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This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at the U.S. Department of State in Washington DC. I worked in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, in the Office of East Asia and the Pacific.

I received a security clearance in order to perform my daily responsibilities in the office, which were primarily research-based and focused on China. I also got to participate in several State Department events on a variety of different topics, including working the State Departments first ever International Religious Freedom Ministerial.  My favorite part of my internship was getting to know the other people in my office. This internship allowed me to get firsthand exposure to different career paths and observe government work from the inside. I learned more about what day-to-day life is like as part of the Civil Service as a Foreign Service Officer.

My time in DC not only helped me hone several skills such as writing, critical thinking, and analysis; but it also provided me with valuable experience as I continue to determine my career path. This internship will additionally help me determine how I want to engage with important human rights issues going forward.

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