Internship Location: Madison WI
Organization Type: State Government
Policy Areas: State appropriations and finance, agriculture, environment, workforce development, labor, and reproductive rights
For the summer of 2023, I worked as a legislative intern in the office of Representative Jacobson in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Throughout my internship, I worked on various everyday tasks, special projects, and bills for my representative, showing me every aspect of working in a legislative office. I gained valuable skills through this internship, including adaptability in a fast-paced work environment, problem-solving as I worked to find creative solutions to complex policy issues, and communication as I responded to constituents in my representative’s voice. My coursework at the La Follette School of Public Affairs helped prepare me for this position. Whether by providing background on different issues, gaining skills to critically analyze policy, or strengthening my writing skills, the undergraduate public policy certificate has helped me succeed in this internship. The most valuable thing I gained during this summer has been the connections I’ve made with other professionals in the State Assembly. Everyone has different backgrounds and reasons that bring them to work, but what we all have in common is our passion for making a difference. Interning within the State Legislature proved a great opportunity, and I would recommend it to any students interested in a career in public policy. It’s a great introduction to working in politics; you will meet people in the field, work on different policy areas that interest you, and gain fundamental skills and experience. This internship gave me the confidence, experience, and knowledge to say that working in state government is a career path I hope to pursue.