Student Spotlight: India Nielsen

Intern Applies Classroom Knowledge to Internship Experience

My internship in Washington, D.C., was incredibly rewarding and extremely important to my student experience and future career. I was elected to be a student senator for the Weber State University Student Association, and as a leader on campus, this internship experience was invaluable. Working in our nation’s capital taught me more about our government and representation of the people, by the people and for the people. I will be able to use this knowledge to represent my constituents on campus.

While living, working and touring D.C., I was able to apply what I learned in my political science classes to my experiences. My Political Thought class with Dr. Thomas Kuehls taught me about just societies. I saw the different ideals of justice at work within Supreme Court rulings and in my work with communities trying to improve with the help of the Affordable Care Act’s Community Transformation Grants. My Constitutional Law class with Dr. Richard Price taught me about Supreme Court rulings throughout American history and the precedents each case sets. The class readings and discussions frequently popped into my head while touring D.C. and visiting the Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Thomas Jefferson memorials.

My internship experience instilled the importance of teamwork, which is vital in my position as a resident assistant (RA) at University Village. Living in the D.C. Weber State apartment with some really extraordinary roommates will improve my work as an RA because as a roommate team we planned activities together, shared (intern) advice and truly supported each other through all obstacles.

My internship — made possible thanks to the Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service — was incredibly applicable to my education, my service on campus and my career. My entire experience in D.C. was life changing.