Alumni Spotlight: Alicia Smith
/Alicia Smith participated in the Washington Internship Institute’s academic internship program in Fall 2016. She came to DC from Bond University, our partner school in Australia, and interned at the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. Here’s what she had to say when reflecting on her experience in DC:
What is your favorite DC memory?
There are too many highlights to name, but I'll never forget that I was in the heart of America during the 2016 election. All of us interns set up with snacks in front of the TV to watch the coverage roll in through the night; despite coming from different backgrounds, political views and even different countries, we were all brought together that night. It was especially interesting for me to be in the capital to experience such a significant moment in U.S. history, because I was taking a class at WII on U.S. politics at the time. That interest has stayed with me over the years and I find myself intensely watching the U.S. election unfold from the other side of the world now, almost 4 years later!
What is your best piece of advice for future interns?
If I could give one bit of advice to future interns is that no matter where you intern, you can use the valuable things you learnt as a springboard to an alternate career path. For so long I thought I was going to work in the law, specifically in youth justice, but I'm now working in a totally different area of government policy-making. Even though I no longer work in the field in which I interned in DC, I took with me so many valuable and transferrable skills that I still use in my daily work today, such as written research, interpersonal communication, and time management. You don't have to work in the same field of your internship once you begin your post-graduate career - it's important to remember a WII internship will always be an asset to your resume once you graduate college, no matter where you choose to work.
How did your internship affect your career?
I was an intern at WII in the fall of 2016, coming all the way from Bond University on the Gold Coast, Australia. I studied law, international relations and communications, so my internship in DC was the perfect fit - the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC). I completed legal research to support the organization's significant piece of work: the Child Sexual Abuse: Model Legislation and Global Review. My time at ICMEC really set me up for the career I'm in now, where I manage relationships between stakeholders, conduct research and provide briefing, and deliver on strategic priorities. After graduating from law school in 2017, I went on to work within the Northern Territory Government on legal, intergovernmental and regional policy issues. I now work as an Advisor within the Federal-State branch at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, in Australia's capital city Canberra. The best part of my job is coordinating meetings of all the leaders of Australian states and territories, and collaborating with different jurisdictions to achieve outcomes for Australians in various policy areas, particularly health, education, and Indigenous affairs. Studying U.S. politics at WII really encouraged my interest in learning more about government policy-making, as I was able to gain insights into another political system other than Australia's. WII definitely helped me on my career path to where I am now, working for the Prime Minister of Australia. I'll always look back at the memories I made in DC fondly and I hope it won't be too long until I can visit the beautiful city again. The friendships formed and memories made will last me a lifetime. The COVID-19 pandemic particularly has reminded me of the strength of my DC friendships, as my former roommates turned forever friends have used it as an opportunity for us to connect through regular video chat sessions.
Learn more about how we help students find internships in Washington, DC at the link below. If you are an alum of the program, head to our alumni page to find out how you can become more involved in our organization!
