Marisol Marquez Perez served as a policy intern for the Arizona State Senate and staffed the Military Affairs and Border Security Committee.
Why did you choose your internship?
I chose to intern with the Arizona State Senate because I wanted to explore a different field where I could leverage my humanities background. As someone who also studied abroad, I thought that I could use my global citizen lens to bring a holistic perspective to the legislature. I have always been interested in fixing inequities within my community and working in public policy is one avenue to accomplish these goals. I wanted to complete this internship to delve into my passions and figure out if public policy was truly a field I could excel in.
What kind of work did you do throughout your internship experience?
During my time at the legislature I had the opportunity to intern for the Military Affairs and Border Security Committee, assist the Chief of Staff with tracking controversial bills, and help the communications team in keeping the public informed. My responsibilities consisted of writing briefing documents, synthesizing legislative content to keep members informed, conducting research, drafting talking points, attending press conferences, and monitoring the progression of bills throughout their legislative lifespan. So most of my work consisted of a lot of reading and writing. I was able to gather behind the scenes insight into the legislative process and developed valuable skills in policy analysis, research, and collaboration.
How did your Applied Humanities major coursework help prepare you for the internship experience?
A fundamental aspect of the humanities is to use transdisciplinary approaches to create direct and tangible solutions for the improvement of the human condition. It is a tool that I have used regularly in my studies to attack complex problems and deepen my understanding of unfamiliar topics. While I didn’t have the typical political science education that many of my fellow interns had, I had a deep background in critical thinking, empathy driven analysis, and complex problem solving skills that I quickly learned to apply at the legislature. Having a humanities background is what truly allowed me to look at bills in a holistic manner, in order to understand the impact it would have if passed as a law.
What was your favorite part of your internship?
One of my favorite parts of the internship was getting to work closely with the senators in my committee. I worked alongside an analyst to create briefing documents that we would present to the senators. This was meaningful because I was able to educate members on what a bill did and prepare them for when these bills would be presented in committee. I was also able to converse with different senators and I learned much about their experiences as public servants.
What did you find challenging about your internship?
I think what was most challenging about this experience was staying professional whilst navigating through complex emotional areas. Especially during the current climate of politics, it was difficult sometimes to not react or want to say something about the issues we were seeing pass through the legislature. Constituents would also visit the Capitol to protest which also added to the public discourse and controversial topics that I saw in the legislature. Over time, I learned that it’s important to remain professional in these situations in order to have productive conversations.
How has your internship experience influenced your plans for your future?
This internship made me fall in love with public policy and has inspired me to continue pursuing a career in this field. After interacting with many professionals that have years of experience working with policy, I have decided to follow in their footsteps and one-day return to work at the Senate. I plan to first obtain my masters in public policy to solidify my expertise in this sector. I also hope to complete a fellowship in public policy located out of state to gather more experience and perspectives before I return to the legislature.
What advice do you have for students as they search for and begin their internship?
My advice is to practice a lot before any interview and prepare an elevator pitch to have on hand while networking. I had to introduce myself countless times during my internship and it was through these interactions where I networked and gained more opportunities for myself. I also recommend other students to apply to internships that align with their passions even if it doesn't align perfectly with their major. If you’re working in something you are passionate about you can apply your knowledge and be successful without having to follow an ordinary path.