My name is Jennifer and I am from Richmond, California. I am a rising junior at Stanford University, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Education. This summer, I am a student volunteer intern at DOL, specifically working with the Employment and Training Administration’s Office of Policy Development and Research. This opportunity was made possible through the International Leadership Foundation (ILF), an internship organization specifically for Asian-American and Pacific Islander students, emphasizing exposure of the API community to government agencies and civic service. This is my first time in Washington, D.C. and the trip has been amazing so far!
I am not a big politics person – I am not studying any kind of political science, law, government or public policy. However, I believe that understanding the basics of government in our country is essential to my role as a citizen and as a voter. I think that the mission of ILF is such a relevant one, as there are many people like myself who are quite unaware of what is going on in our nation. This summer, I hope to learn more about our complex government system. I hope to be more informed about politicians’ decisions, what they mean for us as a population, and how legislative action takes effect and impacts the country.
Within my office, I am starting to get a feel for how things work. My specific task so far mainly consists of a large-scale project called the “Operating Plan.” Essentially, it is a comprehensive document with the agendas for all the divisions within ETA for the fiscal year, outlining the quantitative and qualitative goals of the offices, including the timing and the desired outcome of each goal. My job is to compile each office’s information into one cohesive document.
This assignment has been very helpful and enlightening in the sense that I can familiarize myself with the different offices and their purposes within ETA. It’s amazing to me that ETA is but one of several different agencies within DOL, and yet, it is so large and multifaceted, with many sub-agencies. So far, I am really enjoying my experience here. I work under a small team of great people who willingly welcomed me and answer all of my questions. I am excited to continue learning this summer as an intern at DOL!
Editor’s Note: The author, Jennifer Kuang is a summer intern in the Employment and Training Administration.