Interns Reflect on Their Experiences at the State Department.

AuthorGainey, Deja

Deja Gainey and Eric Kindelan were interns in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs (H) at the State Department during the Fall Semester of 2018. Deja Gainey is a senior political science major with a minor in global studies at William Peace University in Raleigh, NC. She is currently serving as the WPU Student Body President. Deja aspires to become a Foreign Service Officer for the Department of State. Eric Kindelan is a Spring 2019 graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed his bachelor's degree in Political Science and the Peace, War, and Defense program at UNC-CH. Eric's interest in foreign affairs goes back to high school in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

In this article, we hope to explain our interest in foreign affairs, our decision to intern at the State Department, and our experiences in Foggy Bottom. Additionally, we provide brief reflections on the nature of U.S. diplomacy and how the internship has changed our perspectives on the subject.

Why did we decide to intern at the State Department?

Throughout this experience, we've made new lasting friendships, met amazing Civil Service and Foreign Service employees from multiple bureaus, and explored the world of diplomacy through interactive workshops, programs, and simulations.

First, we had different life paths that led us to seek internships at the State Department.

Deja: As a student in high school, I used to wonder what kind of opportunities were outside of my small rural town. Reading stories about the lives of Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) was fascinating and inspiring to me. During my freshman year of college, I reached out to the nearest Diplomat-in-Residence (DIR) and arranged a meeting with him. The DIR provided me with useful resources, including a copy of Inside a U.S. Embassy by the American Foreign Service Association and advice on preparing for an FSO career. After this meeting, I used my time in college to continue a variety of activities both on and off campus throughout the state of North Carolina. Some of these activities included internships in local government and with an economic development non-profit. While attending lectures related to foreign affairs, I had the opportunity to meet former and current State Department officials. These diplomats further inspired me to pursue my dream. When I became eligible to apply for a fall internship, I leapt at the chance. I applied for the Bureau of Legislative Affairs (H) because I...

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