What is your hometown?
Bay Area, California
What college or university are/were you attending during your internship?
The Evergreen State College
What is your field of study or degree program?
Undergraduate: Emphasis in women, gender, and sexuality studies; psychology; and woodworking. Graduate: Public Administration (projected graduation June 2025).
What was the name of your Washington State Department of Health (DOH) host team?
Center for Health Promotion and Education, Office of Public Affairs and Equity
Please share a brief description of your intern project.
I completed the creative redesign of the DOH per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) website using PowerPoint to easily visualize and communicate changes.
What was a highlight of your internship experience at the DOH?
The 20 informational interviews I completed were the highlight of my internship. Through these interviews, I started imagining different paths and opportunities available to me that I previously had not known were possible.
Before this internship, I had limited experience interviewing and this practice increased my confidence and comfort. I enjoyed developing my elevator pitch, a list of questions to ask, and skills for engaging with a variety of professionals.
What do you wish you knew prior to starting this internship? Do you have any tips for future interns?
My suggestions for future interns center around fostering community through interviews and attending many in-person events. My connections with other DOH employees through informational interviews and conversations with fellow interns helped my enthusiasm for online, at-home work. In-person events also connected me with community members who rely on DOH services, inspiring passion for the work.
Did anything surprise you during your internship experience about working in public health, or at a state agency? Were there any additional surprises that you encountered?
Yes, I had a limited understanding of public health before my internship. Through the experience, I learned about the structure of DOH and the work they do to support Washingtonians. I also learned a lot about PFAS, including their impact on the environment and the different public health responses to such events, such as COVID-19 responses.
What new skills, competencies, or knowledge did you gain during your internship at the DOH?
I learned many things during my internship at DOH, including scheduling meetings by referencing employee calendars, effectively completing informational interviews, and analyzing community data. I strengthened my communication and problem-solving skills by developing a PowerPoint presentation to visualize the website design. I also learned about the importance of identifying "rubber" and "glass" balls on my project lists to increase project balance and efficiency. Additional learning about public health and government processes occurred through in-person events.
In what ways did your internship support your career goals or professional development?
Through my internship, I got to take a step out of my comfort zone as a student employee at The Evergreen State College. The informational interviews provided great advice and mentorship, while the overall internship helped grow my confidence to apply for future DOH jobs.
Where are you hoping to take your career next?
I am hoping to get a job at DOH soon and have recently applied for a Workforce Pathways Professionals opportunity. In the long term, I am interested in connecting my work to reproductive rights and sex education.
Is there anything about your identity or background that you would like to highlight or share?
I appreciate the open conversations I was able to have about being a young woman entering professional spaces, especially with my interest in reproductive health and sex education. Marching in the Seattle Pride Parade with DOH also stands out as a representation that diversity is encouraged and welcomed.