My name is Nate Schwartz and I want to tell you why 826DC is such a great place to intern.
First Impressions
I am currently a senior at George Washington University, but am originally from the suburbs of Chicago. While I have acclimated to Washington, DC throughout my time as a student, I still wanted to get more involved around DC. When I saw the 826DC Communications and Development internship posting, I was intrigued. It wasn’t until I went to 826DC’s website and social media that I realized, however, just how neat this organization is and how much I wanted to intern here.
The first thing I noticed was that they were organizing a Half-Half-Half-Half-Half Marathon fundraiser, which I think might be my favorite event ever. I was all in. Who doesn’t love a running event that is less than a mile?!
The more I learned about 826DC and read more of 826DC students’ writing, the more I realized that this was the place I wanted to be this summer. If I saw my writing in a published book as a kid, I probably would have thought that it was the coolest thing in the world (even now, I think that would be pretty cool!). Seeing how 826DC inspires all sorts of students to write and feeling so drawn to this work, I knew I wanted to spend my summer here helping the next generation of writers.
A Summer for the Books
As I settled in for my internship with 826DC, I saw the direct impact of my work. From creating analytics reports to working on social media content to reading and categorizing student writing, it was meaningful to see my work being put to further 826DC’s mission.
When I attended staff meetings and met the rest of the 826DC team, it was also very apparent how much effort the staff are putting into making 826DC a positive environment for students. Even in this virtual environment, everyone was committed to making the summer memorable, productive, and meaningful.
Looking Ahead
I believe that doing work that makes a difference is critical to who I am as a person and as a professional. I’m excited to build on what I learned here and apply it to future internships and jobs. I definitely expanded my horizons this summer by getting so much data analytics experience and by refining both my writing and my research skills. I am leaving this position in a better place than when I started, and I credit that to my own dedication and to my supervisor Sarah.
Given my wonderful experience in a virtual setting, I can assure any future interns that this experience will be fantastic for your professional growth as well!