Aatmiya – Nepal: Fisher Non Profit Global Project (STEP)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main activities that my STEP Signature Project entailed were research,marketing, and client relation. Our project began during the Spring 2019 semester, where we connected with the in country project manager to see what her goals for us were. Once in country, my team and I assisted with writing, branding and visibility, and building business connections.

My understanding of myself, assumptions, and my view of the world transformed while completing my STEP Signature Project in Nepal. Initially, I was nervous to be not only learning while abroad, but making an impact. It was important for me to realize that although the two weeks went by fast, we were still able to have a vast experience while developing cultural skills and sharpening business skills. My STEP Signature Project presented me with cultural learning experiences in country, expanding upon my understanding that across the globe we have similar human characteristics, although we might have different life experiences and may speak different languages.

My view of the world transformed, because when one thinks of a developing country, they tend to think that it is not as great as America or a country in Europe. That belief was challenged, as in Nepal their sense of community and hospitality is strong. Even the care of dogs and monkeys roaming the street shows that Nepali individuals cherish the lives of one another and their animals. I can also say that being in a country where Nepali people (on the continent of Asia) were the majority, I experienced a new sense of being a Black American. Being asked questions about my heritage and hair were positive experiences, allowing me to be both self reflective and culturally aware of the way in which I was perceived.

There were many aspects that contributed to my change experiences during my STEP Signature Project in Kathmandu, Nepal. One event involved a hike, crocheting with Didis at Aatmiya, and working on the business focus of the project at Aatmiya. These key experiences affected me in a positive manner and lead to a greater self and cultural awareness.

While on the exposition on many occasions my group and I were asked where we were from. Individuals were amazed to learn that we were all from America, as we have different appearances due to our ancestry. I was personally asked to get really specific about my ancestry, because in country most assumed that I were African. I was asked about my hair, and on multiple occasions I was told in both English and Nepali by people that they loved my hair, which was extremely affirming. This occurred a lot during the hike, where my character was strengthened as not only did I see a different part of life in Nepal, but I built strength and endurance with the help our our guide and my peers.

Crocheting with Didis was an amazing experience, as it occurred near the end of our project at Aatmiya, a NPO in Nepal. For the majority of our time there, we assisted with marketing and research, leaving time for smaller interactions with Didis, Nepali Women workers. Sitting and crocheting with Didis, sharing laughs and smiles, was a transformative space to be in. I know simple phrases in Nepali, and only one Didi knew English very well. Thus, one Didi and I joked together about the fact that we couldn’t quite communicate with spoken language but had a mutual understanding of that and both understood facial expressions and body language. Most of the time I was quiet, taking everything in, and learning how to crochet from the Didi’s while also acquiring a deep appreciation for their community and work ethic. They also treated me to lunch and supported me through my learning curve. The business side of Aatmiya showed me that Americans are more direct while Nepali individuals utilize softer communication skills.

This transformation is extremely valuable to my life. I was able to experience so much while being in a country over 7,000 miles from home. Relationships helped me to expand upon both my cultural and self awareness. It also made me appreciate my life experiences thus far, being American, being a Black American. As a parallel, I gained a greater appreciation for Nepal, for Nepali individuals, for their culture, shattering the stereotypes of what being a developing country means. My STEP Signature Project in Nepal taught me how to be more patient, more open to new experiences, as you learn whether or not the experience was up your alley or just right for you. I learned to continue to experience new things, challenge my assumptions and beliefs, and to enjoy people and life. My experiences relate to my academic, personal, and professional goals and my future plans. I truly enjoy being immersed in other cultures, having memorable interactions, and building relationships. The project connected perfectly to my academic and professional goals as it related to business and women. I am truly grateful for much support, and for the Fisher College of Business’ Global Office, STEP, and Aatmiya.

STEP Reflection Spring Co-Op 2019

STEP 2019 Co-Op Reflection

 

Outside of the unit that I worked in.

Group of co-ops in Houston area at the co-op exchange.

 

For my STEP project I completed a co-op with LyondellBasell as a Process Engineer Co-Op at their La Porte, TX olefins plant. I worked alongside my mentor to complete a variety of projects in different areas of the plant from the furnaces to the distillation areas and gave a final presentation on what I had completed during my term to the leadership team. There were many days of training and extra learning seminars to gain the most knowledge and experience about all aspects of engineering in the plant.

 

During my co-op experience, there were many transformations that occurred for myself and the view of the world. The first transformation that I saw for myself was growing in confidence as an engineer. The knowledge that is gained in school is important for understanding, but it not directly what will be used in the field. This makes it hard to really visualize what an actual job of an engineer is and be able to determine if I would like it or be able to complete it. This experience gave me the opportunity to explore a potential career options and see how to apply what I have learned in the classroom to a job. I transformed from just an engineering student, but a future engineering professional.  I also moved across the country by myself and not knowing anyone beforehand. I had to mature and figure out everything while I was there. This allowed me to grow as a person as well and learn how to live in a new place and start new. This transformation of gaining confidence was a product of being able to take this co-op experience, which was made possible by my STEP program funds.

 

A transformation of my view the country also changed during my co-op. I grew up in Illinois and go to school in Ohio, so I stay pretty centrally located in the Midwest. I had never been to Texas before, and really had no expectations going into this new part of the country. I did not know if I would live living in this part of the country and was nervous to go there alone. After time, and becoming acquainted with the area, I grew to love this new area. I had a transformation in being able to go outside my comfort zone, explore new places, and appreciate a different part of the country. This co-op allowed me to see so many cities and experience different foods which I would not have had without this experience.

 

There are many people, interactions, and events that allowed me to grow during my project. For my first transformation in growing as an engineer, many opportunities allowed me to grow in the short period I did. First, my mentor is one person that really helped grow in my transformation. He was a consultant and worked in the plant for a long time and knows the ins and outs of each of the units. He was able to teach me the material I still haven’t learned in school and apply that and the things I already knew. I have not had that good of a teacher in such a long time, and he truly allowed me to transform into the engineer I am now. He challenged me to take on difficult projects and go outside of my academic comfort zone. This person truly allowed me to transform into a better learner and student, and I have him to thank for a successful co-op.

 

There are other events that allowed me to transform in my knowledge. There were many training sessions held by LyondellBasell and other contractors that allowed me to learn about different disciplines and acquire knowledge I needed to be successful for this term. These trainings introduced me to valves, pumps, seals, piping, and other mechanical items. These are all things I would not learn in school, but things I would need in a future career. These technical trainings were transformative as they are stuff I will never learn in a sitting classroom, so going out to vendors and contractors to learn in the information allowed me to get extra knowledge not all my classmates will have. Many of these trainings I had to reach out to attend and get this information for myself. This taught me how to be able to ask for help and assistance, but then use it on my own. These events were also what helped me transform into a confident student and young upcoming engineer.

 

The final interactions that helped me grow in my transformative experience, was meeting and growing in experiences with the other co-ops. As I mentioned part of my transformation was going to a new part of the country on my own and learning how to be mature. This helped transform me into the young adult that I am transitioning towards. Having interactions with other young adults going through the same thing helps learn tricks and grow as well. Having this new experience and exploring other places allowed me to transform and see other places that I would not have seen without this opportunity. As illustrated in these past three paragraphs, the people, events, and interactions detailed really allowed for my transformation during my time on co-op.

 

This change and transformation in my life was in both my personal and professional life. I was in an industrial plant and had important projects to complete to help this unit run. I learned the responsibility of an engineer and how to be independent in my thinking. I also learned how to communicate with other groups in a company, and how to effectively work and share ideas between each other. Not only this, but I was able to learn how to ask for help when I am unsure how to do a problem or needed another opinion on a project. I also learned how to write technically in a report so that other people are able to understand what I am thinking and proposing to change. This was something I had to work hard at, but after time I was able to learn and demonstrate my ability at this skill. Lastly, professionally I grew as a speaker as giving a final presentation in front of a leadership team. All of these skills I learned during this transformative experience will help me in my future professional career. Personally, I was able to grow confidence in my ability and how to be an adult. I was able to grow in new experiences, make new friends, and learn more about the world around me.

SP19 Internship at Columbus Nonprofit

  1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

For my STEP Signature project, I had the opportunity to work with a local Columbus Nonprofit that focused on getting artists grant money. I was the social media intern that was responsible for pasting about events on Facebook and Instagram.

  1. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.

            By the end of my STEP project, I had gone through a sort of personal transformation. I realized that, even as an intern, I deserved to be treated in a better way than I had. That is not something that is often touched on by professors or mentors, so it was a difficult situation to resolve and to overcome. People often say that you will have to work with “difficult” people, but they don’t really say much else. However, by the end, I had come out of my internship with a more solid idea of who I was and what I wanted to do because of it.

  1. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.

I want to start by saying that I did enjoy my internship in its entirety. I got the chance to make some lifelong friends and to meet so many great artists and help them through their grant writing process. It was a very rewarding experience that made me feel like I was doing something positive in and for the community. The friends that I made are ones that I will continue to stay in touch with wherever I go next and they helped me through my transformation by being a confidant.

My main job description at my internship was to run the social media pages for the company. I brought in a lot of previous experience from other nonprofits and internships. However, there were instances and interactions where my experiences that I was hired because of, weren’t being valued in the way that they should have. For example, I was asked to write multiple, in-depth, social media plans. I did, but they were criticized without much explanation and weren’t even read in their entirety.

The biggest interactions that lead to my transformation as discussed in section two were interactions that I had with my superior. They had the idea to start this nonprofit to cater to a niche in Columbus that was not being reached and they did it very well. However, there were interactions with them that I had that were very negative and where I was called certain names, out down, or blatantly ignored. It really made me take a step back and evaluate where I was, what I was doing, and why I was doing it.

  1. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.

Dealing with difficult or disrespectful people is talked about by professors and parents but, for me, it has always been said in passing and described as something that “is just going to happen and you’re going to have to deal with it.” It is never addressed how you should deal with it and how stressful it can be. As negative as my interactions were with this particular individual, I am actually grateful for it. I am glad that I had this experience as a college student with the support system of school and my fellow peers in my major. Because I would not have wanted to deal with this in my future in the workplace when I could have felt very alone in it all.

Something that I am taking away that is very valuable for my future is now I have the skill to stand up for myself against someone in a position of power who seemingly “holds my future” in their hands. They don’t. And that is not something that I would have realized without this internship. I am taking this experience with me to all of my future jobs knowing that I can and will be able to handle those types of interactions with continued respect for the individual and myself.

 

A few of my fellow interns and I attended the National Arts Action Summit in D.C. to advocate for more arts funding (not a requirement or a part of the internship).

A fellow intern and I working the rained out 934 fest.

 

STEP Internship With pH Matter- Reflection

My STEP Signature Project was an internship with pH Matter LLC. While interning I was responsible with fuel cell assembly and testing.  I also helped with catalyst synthesis and data analysis.

I have learned that I would like to follow the environmental focus within Chemical Engineering. I have always seen it important to push towards sustainability and a healthier planet, but felt it was impossible for one person to make a big difference.  This job showed me how much opportunity there is in this market. I am fascinated by the scientific breakthroughs that will help society become more eco-friendly.

I have learned a lot about the day to day work of an engineer from this experience. The biggest being the importance of recording and analyzing data. I had never realized how much time and effort this takes. I also really didn’t have any idea how to look at data before this experience. In class when looking at data you already know what relationships exist and how they should be used, but this is not the case in the real world. Discovering relationships and trends in the data is what leads to improvements down the road.             My boss Paul has also given me a lot of confidence as I move forward into the field of engineering.  He started the company, and has a vision for it.  This has shown me the importance of ideas, and sharing those ideas.  Because of this I feel comfortable offering up all my ideas during weekly meetings.

Working at a small company has also allowed me to form close connections with all my co-workers.  It was very clear to me that everyone was there for a reason.  Everyone works hard with needing to be told to do so.  We all share the same passion to improve the world through sustainability, and we all enjoyed coming to work.

After my internship I feel so much more confident that I will be able to succeed after graduation.  Before this experience I was very anxious about life after graduation.  After being in school for so long I had no idea what it was like to have a career, especially one you can enjoy.  However, my signature project proved to me I can be successful in this field, and that I can enjoy life in and outside of work.

STEP Internship Project as a Home Health Aide

1.My STEP internship project involved helping others in need, by being a home health aide with a company called Ohio-At-Home Healthcare Company. As an aide, I spent my time with diverse individuals of varied ages, all with different disabilities. While spending time with the patients, we would go into community settings to help expand social skills, work together on different daily living activities, and work towards living healthy lifestyles by staying physically active and preparing healthy food. Every individual had a different daily routine and lifestyle, which determined the diverse activities I was involved in.

2. This project changed my view of the world and gave me a new outlook on life. Spending time with individuals who are in need allowed me to appreciate so much more in life. The individuals that I worked with struggled with many daily activities that other individuals may take for granted. This brought upon a new perspective to many things and allowed me to have a new appreciation for typical activities in my daily life.

3. There was one patient in particular who allowed me to view the world from a new perspective. This individual was a young girl with cerebral palsy who had much difficulty with moving from one place to another. I met her after a recent hip surgery, which made her wheelchair bound. She had to sleep in the family office on the first floor of her house instead of her own bedroom on the second floor of her house. She had trouble standing up to use the restroom and moving throughout her house in her wheelchair.

Experiencing how much difficulty she had in her daily life to complete tasks that others would take for granted was quite eye-opening. Although this individual had much difficulty with many things, she loved life and always had a smile on her face. She was so appreciative of her family and all things in her life. This kind of situation allowed me to see there are individuals who have many struggles yet stay positive about life.

Individuals and experiences like these along my STEP journey made me look at my life in a new light. Although there may be days where I have my difficulties, it is nothing compared to some of the struggles that this young girl goes through daily. Having the opportunity to help individuals like this in so many ways was so rewarding. Although it was my job as an aide to help the patients, I truly feel like I am the one who benefited from the relationships that I formed with the patients. They allowed me to learn so much about myself, life, and the world.

4. This transformation was extremely important for my future professional goals. Not only did this experience allow me to grow as a person, but it also allowed me to grow as a future health care professional. Having the chance to work with patients and develop a new sense of compassion and understanding for individuals with disabilities allowed me to gain so much insight in health care. I have a new sense of appreciation for disabled individuals and how hard they work to live independently. This experience will allow me to have an edge in my health care career in the future. I truly feel like I will be a leader in my healthcare endeavors because of this experience.

my professional attire for a day as a home health aide

 

This is Ohio-At-Home Healthcare Company’s logo. With the nature of HIPAA laws, photography in the home health sessions was prohibited.

Washington Academic Internship Program

For my STEP Signature Project, I participated in Ohio State’s Washington Academic Internship Program (WAIP). Through this program, I took classes in Washington D.C, attended professional events, and interned at the Department of Justice (Office of International Affairs.) At my internship site, I was responsible for many duties, including drafting treaty compliance referrals that were later sent to the State Department and completing translation reviews of court documents.

My STEP Signature Project has been (and will probably always be) the most transformative experience of my undergraduate career. The most obvious reason why my project was so beneficial to me was because it was my first time living outside of Ohio. Especially because I hope to pursue a career in politics, I was immensely appreciative of being able to collaborate with people from all over the country and learn how their experiences have shaped their perspective on various policy areas. Prior to coming to D.C, I had always assumed that all college-aged Democrats probably cared about the same things; however, I realized that there is a lot more variation in the Democratic Party than I had originally  thought. Additionally, I learned the importance of public service. I started the semester off not knowing what I wanted to do with my life after graduating; I now know that I am willing to do whatever it takes to work in the federal government because I want to play an active role in bettering this country.

During the course of my program, I lived with and attended classes with 20 other Buckeyes; although we all came from Ohio State, we had different political views and worked at various internship sites. Because we were almost always interacting with one another, we were forced to confront our biases and learn to respect each other’s views. This wasn’t always easy (in fact, it was oftentimes exhausting) but I now feel like I can more easily connect and find common ground with others (a skill that is undervalued in the field of politics.) There is a multitude of factors that influence our views and motivate us to uphold a certain belief. One of my biggest takeaways from my experience is that it’s more important to understand those motivations rather than how they translate to a specific political position.

I was expected to start interning at the Department of Justice as soon as I arrived in D.C; however, due to the government shutdown in early January, all on-boarding and training processes were stalled, leaving me without an internship for a few weeks. While I was initially stressed, I was able to find a temporary internship working on Capitol Hill for a Ohio congresswoman. In many ways, the government shutdown was one of the best things that happened to me because it allowed me to witness how both the legislative and executive branches operated. There are so many individuals involved with maintaining democratic processes; to an outsider, federal employees (such as a legislative assistant or an office bureaucrat working in the Department of Transportation) may just seem like cogs in the wheel. In reality, these are the people that ensure that our government is running smoothly. By working in these positions, my love for government was solidified and I was convinced that I had a duty to pursue a career in public service.

While in D.C, I had the privilege of attending many professional events. This included a breakfast at which leaders from Ohio State (including President Drake), former Buckeyes, and the entire Ohio congressional delegation came together to celebrate our state. By attending such functions, I was able to grow my network and meet people I never would have had I not participated in this program. An early goal I had for the semester was to attend as many networking events as possible and exchange business cards with almost everyone I met; I quickly learned that method is not productive. While it was beneficial to go outside my comfort zone and branch out, it was still necessary to prioritize what events I went to and who I followed up with, especially considering that I was only in D.C for four months. By being more selective with who I made meaningful connections with, I now feel like I have stronger relationships with individuals who can help me in the months (and even years) to come.

I went to D.C thinking that I would attend law school after graduating. Even though I have been on the pre-law track for the entirety of my undergraduate career, I never really considered why I wanted to go to law school or if it was the best option for me at this point in my life. I truly felt that participating in my STEP Signature Project helped me reconsider my motives and evaluate the impact I want to have on this world. By connecting with Ohio State alumni and lawyers living in D.C as well as attending events aimed at career development, I learned that there are many paths other than law school that can lead me to achieving my goals. In many ways, I left D.C even more unclear about what my next steps after graduation are; however, I now know about opportunities I never would have had I not had both STEP and Ohio State’s support.

 

Washington Academic Internship Program

For my STEP Signature Project, I participated in the Washington Academic Internship Program (WAIP). I spent spring semester living in DC, interning at the National Archives, taking public policy classes, and learning what it takes to be a successful young professional.

 

I underwent several transformations as part of this program, the main one being personal: I learned how to become an independent adult and create a life for myself in a new city. As part of WAIP, I interned from 9-5 and had class (along with other professional development events) in the evenings from 6:30-9. This was a big change from my usual schedule in college, and I was nervous going into the program that I would not be able to keep up with it. The other main transformation that took place was with my career goals and my idea of what kind of life I want after I graduate. I went into the WAIP program with a relatively narrow focus for my career: performing arts administration, preferably at a nonprofit organization in a large city. However, once I got there and started exploring and meeting with people, I learned that there are a lot of opportunities and paths out there that I never even knew existed, and that I need to be open to them as I think about my future.

 

These transformations were spurred by several components of the program, the biggest one being the internship. At the National Archives, I was a Public Programming Intern, and I worked with both the Public Programming and Education teams to create and run events and activities that helped people connect with the Archives. This was work unlike anything I’d ever done before, and it made me look at museum education and programming/events in a whole new way. I also worked with a great team, from supervisors who were happy to answer all of my questions about museums, life in DC, graduate school, and more, to other interns who I got to collaborate with. This internship truly allowed me to grow and feel comfortable and confident as a young professional.

 

Another key aspect of the program that changed me was the requirement for networking. Every WAIP student has to find 5 people whose careers are of interest and ask them for an informational interview. This was one of the requirements that I was most nervous for, but it ended up being one of the most helpful parts of my experience. I got to meet with people from The Kennedy Center, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Americans for the Arts and ask them about their careers. I learned that everyone has different paths, and often times when things don’t go as you planned, you can still end up where you want to go. These meetings allowed me to get a glimpse into a lot of different organizations and types of work, and they also made me feel a lot more confident about networking and approaching strangers.

 

In a similar note, the last parts of WAIP that caused a transformation in me were the study tours. Every Friday, instead of going to our internships, the whole WAIP cohort went on study tours to different places in DC, and we sometimes met with OSU alumni if there were any at the places we visited. I got to take a tour of the NPR headquarters, meet the Surgeon General, visit the Newseum, hear from former staffers of Senator John Glenn, and have plenty more incredible experiences. Every study tour (especially the ones with alumni) was a reminder that anything is possible if I work hard enough, and that being a Buckeye is special. They truly made me feel like every door is open, and I will carry that perspective with me as I head into my senior year and prepare for the job hunt.

 

This transformation is valuable for my life because I now know how to be an adult and I am prepared for life after graduation. I still want to work in arts administration, but I now feel that I am more open to other options, and that there are many different routes I could take and still be happy. I learned how to network, how to create an educational program, how to lead a group of 30 8th-graders through a museum, how to navigate the metro by myself, how to feel confident at professional events, and so much more. I am more flexible, more capable, and I know that whatever challenges come my way, I will be ready to meet them.

 

I feel like a completely different person than I was in January because I had this experience and I succeeded. I will take the things that I’ve learned in WAIP and use them for the rest of my life, both on a professional and personal level. I could not be more happy with my STEP Project, and the way that it truly transformed me.

(The first picture is of me at the Scarlet and Gray Congressional Breakfast, the second one is of me and my roommates at The White House).

Interning with the Ohio House of Representatives

This semester, I had the opportunity to intern with Representative Fred Strahorn’s office at the Ohio House of Representatives. I assisted the Representative’s Legislative Aid in her daily activities which included answering phone calls, setting up meetings for the Representative with different constituents or groups, updating his schedule, collecting and sorting the mail, filing documents, writing press releases, attending meeting with constituents, and attending session and committee meetings with the Representative.

I applied to this internship position because I wanted to gain a more thorough understanding of the functions of state government. Working in such a dynamic political environment certainly helped me accomplish this goal. Every single day that I was at work, I actively took part in the process of how a bill becomes a law in Ohio, whether that meant that I was reading through and responding to cosponsor requests on behalf of the Representative, listening and responding to constituent perspectives surrounding a particular legislative issue, witnessing testimony in committee meetings, or attending session and listening in on the House vote. However, what I didn’t expect coming into this experience was that I would learn so much about myself throughout the process.

I ended up having an extremely unique experience working for the House. About halfway through my internship experience, the Legislative Aid that I was working with on a daily basis left to take another job. Suddenly, I was the only person working for a State Representative and former minority leader of the Ohio House! In a matter of days, I went from being ‘the intern’ to working as the Representative’s Legislative Aid. Along with all of the other tasks I was in charge of as an intern, I had to step up and take on all of the daily tasks of the LA while also making sure that I stayed on top of my school work throughout the semester. I took meetings with constituent groups on my own, I was fully in charge of the Representative’s schedule, I made sure that he stayed up-to-date on issues in his district, I wrote letters to constituents on his behalf, and I made sure that he knew about any in-house issues when he was out of the office.

Although this experience was dynamic and exciting, it didn’t come without its challenges. The Legislative Aid that I worked with taught me a lot about the office and how it runs, but when she left, there was a lot that I was left to figure out on my own. For example, the first time I had to mail a letter, I had absolutely no idea how to! I didn’t know where to find the envelopes, how to print the Representative’s letterhead onto the envelope, where his stationary was, or where to physically take the letter in the building to mail it. It was small tasks like this that often took up a lot of my time at first. I learned to reach out to others in the surrounding offices to ask for help, which is something I often have trouble doing. Eventually this helped me build up the courage to ask the Representative if I could attend committee and session with him, and ultimately helped me gain more experience outside of the office itself as well.

I barley had any contact with the Representative when I was working with his old Legislative Aid, due to the fact that any questions that I had or issues that needed to be passed along to the Representative went directly through her. Once I took on the duties of an LA, I had the opportunity to actually interact with and develop a relationship with the Representative, which I am very grateful for. He discussed his views on certain issues with me, I attended committee and session with him, and I even got the chance to interview him and draw on his 22 years of experience working in the legislature. Towards the end of my time in the office, he even offered me a job as his Legislative Aid (which unfortunately, I couldn’t accept because I am still a junior).

This unique experience has helped me develop a deeper understanding of both state government and myself. Working as the Representative’s Legislative Aid gave me an idea of what a career working in the legislature would actually be like, as the workload is drastically different from the intern workload. I learned that I can handle a lot more than what I would have originally given myself credit for — if everything that I was in charge of would have been on the original ‘job description,’ I doubt I would have even applied for fear I wouldn’t be successful! Overall, this experience taught me a great deal about the role that the General Assembly as a whole plays in the legislative process, specifically from the perspective of the Ohio House of Representatives. It also provided me with a strong platform from which I will be able to build off of in the future in order to continue to further my knowledge and understanding of the functions of the state government and will be extremely useful as I continue to pursue a career working at the federal level.