Abigail Thibodeau, an English major from Farmington Hills, Michigan, had an internship this summer with TurnUp, a youth-led voter registration and turnout initiative. Thibodeau wrote about her internship experience in the following Q&A that originally was published by the Excel Network.

What were your internship responsibilities?

As an intern with TurnUp, I completed weekly educational tasks that involved researching a range of policy and advocacy issues. I then identified opportunities for local engagement by finding grassroots organizing events and initiatives related to those issues within my communit

How did you obtain your internship?

While exploring different nonprofit organizations to get involved with, the internship program at TurnUp stood out to me, and I decided to apply. To help with my search, I used a variety of resources including Handshake, Glassdoor, and MSU’s Career Services, which made it easier to discover and research potential opportunities.

What did your daily routine include?

I began each day by checking the news. This was an essential part in guiding my work and digging into relevant topics to be sure I was engaged in issues that were currently impacting people, especially when we are in such a rapidly changing social and political climate. From there, my work included research and composing various materials such as briefs, memos, and presentations, staying connected with my team through Slack, and attending or identifying community organizing events.

What was your favorite experience from the internship?

My favorite part about my internship was getting to actually go into my community and advocate for the topics I was researching. One prominent instance was the “No Kings” protest in June. Attending this on my own, then reflecting on it with my team, made up of people from across the country, who had also taken part, was a really cool moment.

What was your least favorite part of the internship?

The downside to the internship was the virtual aspect. However, because it was virtual I got the opportunity to connect with people across the country!

What skills did you learn and/or build upon during your internship?

I gained experience with community organizing techniques, strengthened my communication skills, and practiced composing various types of informative documents.

What did you learn about your career path as a result of your internship? 

This internship cemented my desire to take a community centered approach in my career. I plan to explore and pursue opportunities in the public policy field and will be moving on to a Congressional internship this fall to do so.

What advice do you have for others seeking internship opportunities?

I highly recommend utilizing the resources MSU offers! Doing a mock interview in preparation for my internship interview really helped boost my confidence.