by Kate Wells
I’m Kate Wells, and this summer I’m working as a legislative intern with the Committee on Publication. My home base is here in Boston, but I attend Principia College during the school year. I’m a double major in Political Science and Religion, and this fall I’ll be studying Spanish and Ecology in Peru for two and a half months.
Like a lot of the other interns, this job seemed to unfold pretty naturally for me. I was wrestling with what to do this summer, trying to find a good balance between financial responsibilities, a desire to be focused and useful, and a sense that I needed some time to refresh and do some of those things you always mean to, but never seem to get around to: read, sail, learn to cook, see old friends, etc.
When I heard about the internships offered through TMC Youth, they seemed like a good blend of work, on-the-job learning, and individualized opportunities to design new projects and get some hands-on experience. It felt like the “something different” I had been looking for. I immediately focused in on the legislative position, and applied even though the posting said they were looking for an older, more experienced student who could put in more time. I went through several interviews, and despite being pretty nervous—after all, why would a bunch of attorneys want a nineteen-year-old with no legal background in the office—I was met with kindness and genuine welcoming throughout the process. The interviewers seemed to be searching for people who wanted to work there, not just the smartest or the most legislative-savvy.
After arriving here, that same kindness persisted: the attorneys and supervisors have been so patient, so happy to answer all my stupid questions and make sure I felt at home that these last 3 ½ weeks have flown by. Sometimes it feels a little overwhelming. Research projects, database complications, multi-departmental assignments and a full calendar of meetings and deadlines fill up 10-hour workdays pretty fast. And every so often I get to do the best things.
Last week we got to sit in on The Christian Science Monitor’s lunch hour discussion with Danna Harmon, the reporter whose 4-part piece on Chinese-African relations just came out last week. Today, we booked a recording studio so I could interview Steve Graham, Managing Editor of the Christian Science Sentinel. Just wrapped a New Committee Conference, where Sonia (the other legislative intern) and I were kept busy organizing the catering and making thousands of telephone calls to vendors. It paid off when we got to meet Committees from all over (London, Hawaii…even North Dakota).
This stuff probably doesn’t sound fascinating, but when you’re me and you think you want to do this kind of thing professionally (well, not the catering per se), it’s great! So it hasn’t left a lot of time for sailing or tennis exactly, but there’s still more summer to come. Plus, I’m doing it all in Boston—what more could I want?
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Your job sounds interesting. Hope you get to play some tennis, too.
Do you have to answer questions about Christian Science from the public? Is that hard?
Kate! so good to hear youre in boston and having such a new experience!! I saw your brothers this last weekend and it sounds like things are going really well. cant wait to hear more at the end of the summer. take care!!