Emily Vasquez is a senior majoring in Global Affairs with a concentration in Global Inequalities and Responses. She served as an intern for the Loudoun County Democratic Committee in Fall 2021 and enrolled in GLOA 495 for the semester to receive academic credit for her work.
My experience as a Loudoun County Democratic Committee Intern
Going into my senior year at George Mason University I had to ask myself a lot of questions. The main question was one that everyone had been asking me, what was I going to do after graduation? My studies in Global Affairs have prepared me for a career in two main sectors: non-profit and government policy. My concentration is Global Inequalities and Responses. I was able to take the skills from these classes and apply them to my assigned work as an intern. I wanted to gain firsthand experience in either of the sectors, so that is when I applied to be in the Loudoun Democratic Committees Fall 2021 intern cohort.
In Fall 2021, I learned the ins and outs of local and state politics. My home, Loudoun County, had been on the center stage of issues, especially education, on local, national, and even international news. I had been given the opportunity to work on and help multiple campaigns including local elections for the House of Delegates, as well as the Lieutenant Governors, Attorney General, and Governor’s race.
Being able to intern during an election year was incredibly rewarding. As someone who is not able to vote it allowed me to have my voice heard in another manner. I was able to work on campaign material, craft infographics, and learn valuable career skills. Being able to know that the work I did helped make my county, and surrounding areas, a better place is more than anything I imagined. I encourage anyone wanting to learn more about politics to apply for this kind of internship. Local elections matter and the work you do for your area is incredibly important.