Each year Georgia Tech gives financial aid to selected students with internships in Washington, DC to help them cover the costs of living in our nation’s capital. For more information on how to apply for the stipend, please see the previous post.
Emnet Almedom will be graduating from Georgia Tech next May with a degree in International Affairs and Spanish and a minor in Economics. Some of her on-campus involvements include being on the eDemocracy Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) research team and being a Resident Advisor for Georgia Tech’s International House. Her most valued volunteer experiences have been as a Bilingual Program Volunteer with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and as a Corps Member of Jumpstart, an Americorps program that recruits and trains college students to serve preschool children in low-income neighborhoods. From May-December 2012, Emnet will be an intern in the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). ACF is an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); it is responsible for the government programs that touch issues such as child care, early education, family assistance, refugee resettlement, human trafficking and much more. In the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, she works with a team that investigates the role of social services in the overall health and well-being of the nation, but especially that of vulnerable and underserved populations.
What prepared you for your role?
“I came into my internship without being very sure what my role would be, but Georgia Tech and various volunteer experiences prepared me to be self-motivated and flexible in facing such an exciting challenge. Since this has been my first professional work experience, the transition from student to intern was interesting, but I felt more than equipped to meet deadlines, think critically and perform well after three years of Georgia Tech instruction. With my position being concentrated in policy work, my “field” experience in hospitals and low-income classrooms were important in understanding the value of work at the federal level. I found this appreciation for experience on the ground from all of my co-workers and supervisors.”
Any previous internships or study abroad experiences?
“I spent time on the Mexico City LBAT (Language for Business and Technology) summer program as a student in 2010 and as a Teaching Assistant in 2011. Though the Mexico City has been discontinued for safety concerns, I can speak to the quality of the LBAT program itself. The intensive language instruction, professional site visits and cultural immersion were unique learning opportunities that have helped me in both academic and professional environments. Language and intercultural skills will always serve you well!“
How has this internship influenced your career choices?
“This internship has solidified the fact that I want a future in public health. Through my time at ACF, I have learned so much more of what health really entails. There are many social, economic and cultural factors that play major roles in our country’s healthcare system and health equity overall. Figuring out what to “do” with a liberal arts degree may seem challenging at first, but working in this field has opened my eyes to the many paths that allow for, if not rely upon, the minds of the critical thinkers and problem solvers that Ivan Allen College produces.”