Valeria Calderon interned for the Arizona Students’ Association where she gained experience in student political advocacy through activities such as grassroots organizing and lobbying.
How did you get your internship?
I found out about the Arizona Students’ Association (ASA) while job searching on Handshake. I learned that ASA was seeking students to work as canvassers to register people to vote during the summer for the upcoming November election. After interviewing with my supervisor, I worked as a voter registration canvasser throughout the summer and fall of 2024. Later, my internship supervisor informed me about an opportunity to become a fellow intern in Spring 2025, which would help me develop my professional skills. I decided to pursue this opportunity and applied for the position.
What kind of work did you do throughout your internship experience?
During our fellowship, our goal was to learn about political advocacy and ways to engage in it effectively. I participated in several activities applying what we learned, including a practice debate with fellow interns where we discussed and argued our positions on bills passing through the state legislature. Each week, we had training sessions with our peers and supervisor, where we attended presentations on political organizing and lobbying. We learned how to write Letters to the Editor to publicly share our views on bills passing through the state legislature. We also had the opportunity to partake in semester-long projects such as hosting a fundraiser to raise money for causes affecting students in Arizona.
What new skills did you practice and develop in this internship?
I learned new skills related to political advocacy such as lobbying and political organizing. I was able to practice my writing skills by expressing my opinion on bills through written responses such as writing Letters to the Editor. I practiced my public speaking skills by engaging with other students through tabling and participating in group discussions in weekly meetings and events. I was also able to improve my planning and teamwork skills by working on semester-long projects with fellow interns.
How was the internship related to your Applied Humanities degree?
This internship is related to my Applied Humanities degree as it served as an opportunity for me to engage effectively with other individuals and make contributions that positively impact my community. This internship was an opportunity for me to learn the necessary skills to become a leader in my community. Our internship also placed a strong emphasis on collaboration with others, which was a signature feature of the Applied Humanities courses.
What was your favorite part of the internship?
One of my favorite parts of my internship was when I got to use my voice to speak out on issues or on a piece of legislation that may impact our community. When I would use my voice to advocate for issues affecting my fellow students, I felt proud that I was able to take action and contribute to making positive changes. I also enjoyed going to the Youth Empowerment Summit in Phoenix where we got to network with other fellows across Arizona and participate in lobbying training. There I developed my public speaking skills as well as practiced my networking since I was able to meet other students who were also committed to finding ways to make change.
What was the most significant contribution you made?
One of the most significant contributions I made was participating in organizing events, particularly our tabling events. During these events, I socialized with other students and got them interested in our organization and our mission. I was able to recruit quite a few students for next fall. I was also proud to have spoken out about the potential cuts to the Pell Grant, which would affect a large number of students with financial need. Getting people involved in fulfilling our mission and using my voice to make change is one of the reasons I am happy to have been a part of ASA.