Internship Location: Madison WI
Organization Type: State Government
Policy Areas: Government Relations/Lobbying
This summer, I worked as an intern in the office of Representative Meyers at the Wisconsin State Capitol. As an intern, my primary responsibilities were to respond constituents who contacted our office about legislative issues, reach out to our constituents who were featured in local newspapers, and research issues relating to current legislation. I also assisted in writing speeches for the Representative, staffing the representative when she went to the Assembly Floor, and learning more about northern Wisconsin and the issues that were important to the constituents. I learned about the behind-the-scenes workings of state politics and gain a better understanding of the every-day work of the state government. This internship was a very valuable experience because it taught me about the importance of asking questions and has provided me with the confidence to apply my classroom knowledge to real-life situations. Some of the issues brought forth by the constituents in our district were issues that I had exposure to previously while others were completely new to me. In both situations, I was able to use the information I had learned in the classroom to gather information and research policies but I also became more comfortable asking my coworkers for clarification and assistance on issues that I didn’t understand. This internship was an amazing opportunity for me to learn more about state politics and gain experience in the field of public policy.