Yvonne is a recent graduate from the University of Florida, holding a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Sociology. As a first-generation college student who grew up in a predominantly white environment, she strives to build toward social justice and educating the community on the intersectionality of race, gender, and sexuality. This summer, Yvonne is excited to intern with the U.S. Forest Service.
What are some things that you did not expect coming into the internship? 
Upon accepting the internship, I initially thought that this experience was going to be about working in a governmental agency and learning what that environment is. These few weeks have shown that this internship is so much more than that. The wealth of networking, learning, and participating has opened my eyes to new involvement and career possibilities that I never knew was possible. Attending workshops, roundtables, and Washington Leadership Programs has sparked an interest of policy in me that I never knew I had. Throughout my undergraduate career, I was focused on being on the pre-professional health track but decided to explore another field this summer. I did not expect to start considering a government career instead of becoming a doctor or physician assistant. The experiences I have had so far in this internship has taught me to further embrace my identity but also look inward to truly understand myself and where my passion lies.
Why is public service important to you?
Public service means putting someone else’s needs before yours. I believe that uplifting others is crucial in the advancement of today’s society. The voices of marginalized communities need to be heard, thus, people need to create spaces where those voices have impact. I believe that the intention in any career, job, or volunteer work makes it public service and everyone can do something to uplift a community whether that be your own or being an ally to another.
What are the projects that you’re working on this summer and how are they connected to your interests in public service?
This summer I am working with the USDA Forest Service in Research and Development. Some main projects I will be focusing on are assisting and learning how to prepare a national scale assessment of a natural resource: soils; assisting in organizing a national stakeholder meeting for National Assessment purposes or for Strategic Planning purposes on areas such as grasslands, fire, and experimental forests and ranges; and publishing social media posts to simplifying science research and policy to connect with the public.
I am also working with Libraries with Borders alongside four other CAPAL interns to create a sustainable workshop to assist the mainly Chinese senior population within the senior center in Chinatown. To do so, the other interns and I visit the senior center every other Monday during lunch to engage in conversation with them and learn what their needs and interests are.
These projects align directly with my passion to educate and inform the community, local and national.
What is something that people usually don’t expect or know about you?
I am kind of obsessed with turtles and I have two pet turtles.
What do you do in your free time?
Travel, go on food adventures, go to concerts/music festivals, watch Netflix/HBO/Hulu, and do any water activities (e.g. kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling, etc.)
Meet all of our CAPAL Scholars & Interns here.
Sharon Le is a rising third-year student at the University of Virginia, double majoring in Psychology and Spanish, on the Pre-Law track. Sharon served as the External Vice President for the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA@UVA) the past year, and is also involved in Phi Alpha Delta – the International Pre-Law Fraternity, and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team at the University. She was greatly exposed to the Asian Pacific American representation not only through her involvement with the Vietnamese community in Northern Virginia with VSA but also through her background – having grown up in Vietnam and moving to America in high school. Sharon hopes to promote Asian Pacific American leadership with her commitments and to give the community a bigger voice in the country.