Taking part in the UCDC program was one of my main goals for my academic career since the first day I transferred to UC Berkeley. Public service is a field I have been interested in for a long time, but due to my circumstances I did not have the opportunity to be in that environment, therefore UCDC was the perfect program because I would be able to continue in my academic work while simultaneously getting the government experience I’ve been looking for. I wanted nothing more than to have an internship on the hill and to my surprise that was much easier said than done. I began to...
My semester in D.C. flew by far more quickly than I could have ever imagined. Working forty hours each week while taking classes and exploring the city made the time speed by, but I truly believe that I made the most of my time on the East Coast. I toured the Capitol, House Chamber, Supreme Court, and even went to the White House on a spring garden tour. I explored many museums, monuments, and historical sites in D.C., and I also was able to visit nearby cities on the weekends. I visited New York, Boston, Baltimore, and Shenandoah National Park all thanks to Amtrak—I spent...
As I have interned for the Washington Office of Congresswoman Matsui, I have gained a greater appreciation for congressional public service work. Not only do most representatives and congressional staffers work long hours, but they care about their constituents’ opinions and input. When constituents contact their congressional offices, staffers and representatives factor in their opinions when crafting official political stances. Although I did not work for a district office, I witnessed indirectly how representatives’ district offices help and advocate for constituents...
Living in Washington DC and being a part of the UCDC program has been an incredible experience. One aspect that I’m definitely taking away from this experience is the sheer amount of possibilities that are potentially open to graduating students. Working in Development was something I never considered or even was aware of, so working in this office and seeing the benefit of what is essentially fundraising in the political world is extremely eye-opening. As for the city and living experience, there was nothing I didn’t enjoy about my time in DC, I loved going to work and walking...
Placement: Rep. Adam Schiff - Burbank District Office Mentor: Colleen Oinuma
Rosie Echeverria was born and raised in East Hollywood, Los Angeles in a Central American immigrant household and she is a first-generation, low-income, EOP, DSP, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ student at UC Berkeley. She went to Santa Monica College (SMC) for about two and a half years then transferred and moved to UC Berkeley in Fall 2020, toward the beginning of the covid pandemic. She is a Political Science major with a minor in Public Policy and Education.
Placement: Georgetown Law Criminal Justice Clinic Placement Location: Washington, D.C.
Lakhvir Singh is a student at University of California, Berkeley majoring in Political Science. I am currently in the US Army and a first-generation college student. I was born in Punjab, India, and immigrated to the United States of America at age of 18. I want to pursue a career in Law and work in the Department of Justice.
Placement: International Law Institute Placement Location: Washington, D.C.
As a 23-year-old UC Berkeley senior, Daniela Rodas sees herself as a person who strives to be her best in every area of life. Be it as a former student government representative at the Santa Rosa Junior College, as an AmeriCorps health and wellness ambassador, or most recently as a newly certified E.M.T. working with the American Red Cross and other nonprofit volunteer-based organizations where she helps provide care and support for individuals in need.
Placement: Political Violence Lab Placement Location: Washington, D.C.
Phoebe Pham is an Indo-Chinese-Vietnamese-Japanese American studying Political Science and Legal Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Growing up overseas on a military base, Phoebe was constantly surrounded by a community that always emphasized a higher calling to public service. She is dedicated to serving the communities she has been fortunate to be a part of, ranging from her time as a transfer student at Ohlone College, where she worked extensively in public policy and...