Internship
helps enhance career
By
Tiffany Lenaeus
On-line Forty-Niner
The
thought of being nearly 3,000 miles away
from family and friends is scary to many
students. For Veronica Rodriguez, 23, Washington
D.C. offers a unique opportunity to get
first-hand experience in the field she wishes
to work in.
"I
really, really enjoy what I do here,"
said Rodriguez, who is graduating from Cal
State Long Beach in the fall with a degree
in broadcast journalism. She works for the
Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the
Press, a non-profit organization that provides
free legal advice to reporters. Rodriguez
is a reporter who looks for stories about
First Amendment rights violations. She writes
three stories a week which are posted on
the organizations Web site, www.rcfp.org.
The
Career Development Center's Web site promotes
internships as a way to gain work experience
and job skills that can be used in the professional
world. Some internships can lead to job
offers upon graduation.
"It's a great way to network and you
meet a lot of people who could be your future
employers," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez learned about the internship opportunity
from The Washington Center. The Washington
Center provides placement for up to 3,000
interns from over 250 colleges and universities
across the country. It provides internships
for many different types of majors. There
are courses offered for the interns as well
as financial aid and living arrangements.
One aspect of the program Rodriguez said
she really likes is the Presidential Lecture
Series.
"Every
Monday we meet as a group and listen to
different speakers like politicians and
authors," she said. Rodriguez said
she believes that there are currently two
other students from CSULB working with The
Washington Center but in different areas
of study.
Rodriguez
did another internship before going to Washington.
"I
did an internship in Mexico and when I came
back I wanted to do another," she said.
She
said she was always interested in working
in the capitol. She learned about the opportunity
on The Washington Center Web site at www.twc.edu.
One nice thing about the program, Rodriguez
said, is that they set you up with housing.
She lives with three other interns from
different parts of the world.
Rodriguez
really enjoys the work she does for the
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
but she said that it is hard to be away.
"I
love it here but it is hard getting used
to the weather and being away from my family
and friends," she said. "I'm used
to walking around in sandals all the time
but I really enjoy what I do here."
Rodriguez
said she is excited because the committee
has its quarterly magazine coming out and
she has a story published in it.
When
asked if she would recommend this experience
Rodriguez said, "Definitely. Anyone
who's interested should check out the program."
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