Name: Amanda Quinn

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: U.S. Department of State | Title of Your Position: Public Affairs Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s): Global Studies and English Literature

Expected Graduation Year: May 2016

Briefly describe your internship, co-op, research, or service-learning opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.

Currently, I am a Public Affairs intern at the U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg, Russia. Most of the work I do goes into supporting the Consulate's work to plan events and programming that encourage cultural exchange between Americans and Russians. I also support the U.S. Consulate's various social media accounts.

Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.

I have always had an interest in diplomacy and the Foreign Service. Throughout my sophomore year, my goals became clearer and I knew I wanted to pursue a career involving international relations. I did some research and learned about the application process for an internship with the State Department and decided to apply for a Spring 2015 internship. On the application I expressed my interest and experience in Russia, but it was actually a total surprise that I was placed in St. Petersburg.

Which of the following resources did you use to find your current experience?

Career Center, USA Jobs

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?

I am so glad to be back in St. Petersburg. I studied abroad here in the fall, but it’s interesting to be here to work rather than study. Just being able to return to this city is a definite highlight of this position. Besides that, I've enjoyed the getting involved in the social media presence of the U.S. Consulate. In today's world, social media has begun to play a key role in diplomacy, and it is interesting to see that starting to evolve.

What have you gained from your experience that you could not have gained from another opportunity ?

Participating in an internship abroad, especially in Russia, has provided me with the unique chance to get firsthand experience observing how U.S. diplomacy is conducted abroad. I'm also here during an interesting time for U.S.-Russia relations, so its been interesting watching that evolve from the perspective of American diplomats.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

Do your research and explore all the ways you can get involved in your field of interest and then apply for everything that intriques you. Look into opportunities that can give you a unique perspective and experience in your field.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / the internship placement process.

Take a risk and do something that scares you. I took a semester off and went abroad to participate in this internship. Don't be afraid to explore opportunities that are unique and take you outside of the normal college experience.

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