Hi Everyone! I’m Ellie, an incoming sophomore transferring to the University of Southern California to major in Urban Studies & Planning. I’ve been interning with the U.S. Forest Service for the past year under the National Partnerships Office as a Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Program Intern. During the rare moments when I’m not working, you can find me organizing floral arrangements or shopping at my local farmer’s market.
Internship Placement: US Forest Service
As a CAPAL scholar/intern, what does CAPAL mean to you?
I view CAPAL as a community of AANHPI individuals who highlight and support the interests of students pursuing various careers in public service. CAPAL students are driven to share their enriching experiences, as well as build a career that breaks barriers in their respective fields and serves the needs of others.
What is an issue or topic within the AANHPI communities that you feel passionate about addressing?
Generational trauma and how the scars of the past continue to affect rising AANHPI generations short and long-term. I hope that by de-stigmatizing and exposing the cultural mistakes of the past, the long-standing and unspoken barriers surrounding such issues as mental health can be broken among typical AANHPI communities.
What are your main responsibilities at your position? What are some of your big projects?
Facilitating the onboarding and off-boarding processes of interns in the Minority-Serving Institutions Program. I also contribute to various White House Initiatives by reporting trending intern positions to the American Climate Corps. My contributions support the Workforce Development Partnerships Hub in a multitude of ways to develop and provide work experiences and opportunities to young and emerging professionals in natural resource careers.
How does this internship fit with your professional and career goals?
My internship has offered me opportunities to explore the diverse and abundant career options within the federal government. I continue to learn and feed my curiosity about public service roles and hope that eventually through these early stages of exploration, I will find a fitting career for me in public service.
What does public service mean to you? What sparked your interest or desire to get involved with public service?
The large-scale impact that public service careers have is what piqued my interest. Whether directly through policy and legislation or the development of public programs, to me having a fulfilling career in public service means initiating change that improves the way of living for large populations of individuals.