Name: Lourdes Sankar
Class Year: 2027
Major: Political Science
Minor: Spanish, Health Studies
Internship Organization: Bryn Mawr College Political Science Department and University of Toronto, Canadian Government
Internship Title: Research Assistant
Location: Remote and Mexico City, Mexico
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
This summer I have been interning for Dr. Elizabeth Corredor, Professor of Political Science at Bryn Mawr. In the beginning of June we went to Mexico City for a Women’s Peace and Security conference where I acted as the note taker and translator for Professor Corredor. I then have been tasked with writing the policy report that will later be sent to the Canadian military to help promote an anti femicide agenda. Traveling with Professor Corredor and spending time in Mexico City allowed me to immerse myself within the culture and work on my Spanish while I was there. Meeting such incredible women who are passionate about the extreme amounts of femicide in Mexico was so inspiring. I am able to take my newfound research and policy report skills back to Bryn Mawr with a new global view.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I applied for this internship because I have taken two classes with Professor Corredor and loved her passion about Women and International Politics. I wanted to research under her support and learn from a professional perspective.
Was there anything special about how you found this internship?
The community of people that I met: the amazing women in Mexico, my felllow research assistants, and Professor Corredor.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
Getting to work along side such a passionate group of people and getting to experience a new city.
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn’t expect?
I learned how to code in excel for political science research!
Working remotely for the first time? What has that experience been like for you?
I have had to be dedicated to creating my own schedule and making sure I meet my deadlines.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?
Not having a set schedule and learning to create that for myself when I always have had a set schedule made for me.
Can you give us three adjectives that describe your internship experience?
Immersive, transformative, collaborative
What is most rewarding about your internship?
Creating fantastic connections with other students and my professor.
Was this internship what you expected it to be?
It was everything and more.
This summer, I had the opportunity to work mentoring a cohort of high school students at the annual Free Speech forum, where I was able to provide program support by facilitating discussions and homerooms on free speech, constitutional, and First Amendment rights. The Free Speech forum is a week-long program organized by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) where high school students engage with free speech rights, hear from speakers like Mary Beth Tinker on their rights, and engage with Capitol Hill through field trips and other daily activities. I was also in charge of preparing detailed incident reports for FIRE staff, documenting participant experiences, and promoting a safe, inclusive environment for students by modeling good behavior and addressing participants’ needs. I was also able to gain more knowledge about constitutional law, network and work alongside other college student counselors from universities across the country, such as the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, Georgetown, Columbia, UChicago, and Penn State, who were also passionate about the free speech of students on our college campuses.
For the last few months, I have been doing work in the archives at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (MNBA). The tasks I completed for the Centro de Documentación (CEDOC) Angélica Pérez Germain varied but all the work had a focus on preserving and promoting Chile’s contributions to the art world. Within the work one transferable skill I learned were the procedures to follow when handling documents and photos.
I discovered my internship opportunity through the partnership Bryn Mawr has with IES abroad. I was thrilled once I received my placement in Santiago because I had studied abroad the previous fall in Latin America through the study abroad office. I felt this was the right choice for me since I could continue to build upon skills and IES matches students to internships that aligns with their career interests which was an important deciding factor for my junior summer.
The most rewarding part of my summer internship was contributing to the archive. Due to the fact that the museum is the oldest in the Americas, the archive is vast and is in need of constant organizing. Throughout the summer the archive received various donations from Chilean artists who left their documents and personal archives to the museum. It was exciting and impactful to uncover history through the stories of artists, collectors, and institutions in connection to the museum. The team I worked with including students from local universities and departments in conjunction with the archive helped me understand the importance of Chilean history. One experience that was particularly valuable was the opening of the Sala Chile (Gallery) focused on the life and art of Chilean artist, Roberto Matta. The archive helped organize the exhibition and provided historic context to establish the permanent exhibition titled Historias de una Colección. I was able to attend the opening and hear from the various groups who collaborated on this project including the ministry of culture.
I am a summer camp intern and food distributor at the Old Pine Community Center in South Philadelphia. Old Pine provides many services to the South Philly community and youth. From renting out spaces for community events to partnering with local businesses to fight food insecurity. This summer, as an intern for Old Pine’s Summer in the City program, I have brainstormed and implemented daily activities, recorded and aided in the production of weekly plays, and cleaned the center before and after the camp. A day-in-the-life of an Old Pine intern has been challenging but also rewarding. It is not only those tasks listed above that I execute, but also being readily available to other staff. Old Pine is in the process of finding more staff, so I might be asked to help with packing boxes, watching the front, or prepping grocery bags.
Before Bryn Mawr, I lived in South Philadelphia for three years. My condo was only a three-minute walk from the Old Pine Center. I fondly remember walking to and from school and my extracurricular activities, and passing Old Pine. Now that I am back in Philadelphia for college and have the opportunity to work, I wanted to reconnect with South Philly’s community and give back what they had given me: kindness, open-mindedness, and cultural experience. Why Old Pine and not another organization in South Philly? The Summer in the City program seemed to be the perfect fit. I have always enjoyed teaching children and learning from the new generation. Through them, I reconnect with the powerful tool of creativity and the skills of communication.
Having to be pulled from task to task in different areas of the center, I have met and befriended many people. In this process, many unique stories and conversations have arisen. This social aspect of Old Pine is my favorite part of my internship. Being a somewhat introverted and awkward person, talking to new people has been an impeding weakness; however, being in Old Pine’s friendly atmosphere, I have learned the importance of confidence and communication. Making small talk and opening myself up has proven to be interesting and helpful. After my internship, I hope to continue my newfound confidence and exploration of stories.
