Molly McSweyn '18

Junior fellow and communication intern at The Democracy Collaborative in Washington, D.C.  

“During my time at UP, I have become interested in politics and political communication with think tanks and government bodies. I wanted an internship where I could do this kind of work in Washington, D.C. My primary responsibility at The Democracy Collaborative is working with the communication team to help them transition content onto their new website. This includes researching, writing content and summaries as well as formatting and assigning content to different categories.

I’ve really enjoyed working with the incredible people at The Democracy Collaborative. Being around these people with such extensive and impressive experience has been inspiring. So far during my internship, I have really learned how to listen. It’s easy to listen to instructions or directions, but I have learned so much from listening in on meetings, conversations with colleagues, and even during lunch.

I believe internships are important for undergraduate students because it gives us a way to try out different professions. Internships allow for students to learn what different companies and organizations are like, what job descriptions and responsibilities mean, and what kind of people you want to work with. Because of UP and my internship with The Democracy Collaborative, I have figured out what my future career path will be.”