My name is Talia Vicars. I’m a rising Junior at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. I am majoring in Political Science and Studio Art with a minor in Spanish. Ultimately, I hope to become a lawyer and have a focus on civil rights or environmental law. I have extensive experience with research and working within non-profits, law firms, and union rights organizations. I’m familiar with cold-calling for political campaigns and other initiatives, as well as data synthesis on a variety of topics. I also have worked as a student fundraiser within the Development department at Tulane, so I am well acquainted with financial campaigns and securing donations. An organization that is focused upon advocacy or hands-on approaches is what most interests me, and that is why I was so excited to accept the position as a Campaigns and Private Sector Department Corporate Research Summer intern at Oxfam in Washington, DC.
I have formulated five learning objectives I hope to complete during this summer internship position. I aspire to improve my research skills, learn about the internal aspects of an international non-profit, develop my ability to brainstorm creative solutions to conceptual issues, learn how to navigate a dynamic work environment, and develop skills writing for a variety of purposes. There is an immense amount of research required for this position. I have experience with research at numerous non-profits, but I believe this position would demand that I hone my research skills. As I hope to eventually pursue a career in public policy, research is integral ability that I need to develop. I have never worked for an international non-profit. I have worked for many non-profits as well as law firms, but never of such large scale or at the unique position of working internationally. The fast-paced environment is unique and would broaden my understanding of the kind of organizations I may work for in the future, furthering my professional growth. I believe that I consider issues from many sides and have the ability to analyze and respond quickly. Working for Oxfam would encourage this kind of critical thinking. There is a large interpersonal element to working for Oxfam, and the ability to network and build relationships, regardless of if it is with supervisors or coworkers I may meet during my academic and professional career, is incredibly important. I hope that working in an office of such a small scale would help me build deep professional relationships and improve my ability to multitask on a variety of assignments. I have experience writing for academic and more casual audiences. With this internship, I look forward to developing my writing skills for more than what I am currently comfortable with.
The internship opportunity at Oxfam relates to NCI’s mission in a variety of ways. NCI states clearly in its mission statement the emphasis on empowering women. Of the variety of campaigns Oxfam works on, gender equity is one of six main initiatives. Oxfam works primarily to eradicate poverty, and asserts that “…women bear the biggest burden of poverty, and most people living in poverty are women.” They work to support organizations that focus on “gender equality, legal reform, and ending violence against women.” In conclusion, Oxfam claims to “…put women’s rights at the heart of everything we do.” As a young woman who is passionate about political engagement, this internship would provide me with the important opportunity to participate in spheres, such as politics and socioeconomic policy, that men often dominate. Throughout my academic career, I have learned that women advancing and succeeding begins with women uplifting and supporting other women and I will be able to apply this to my internship.
I am preparing for starting this internship in a couple of ways. I am researching the company and other relevant information so I can familiarize myself with Oxfam. I’m also completing all paperwork they require from me prior to starting in June. As I mentioned previously, I’ve never worked for a company of this size. Thus, I’m learning this industry by reading recent publications and taking note of major changes or updates. Oxfam works on international and domestic issues, and to keep up with the news I’m reading the newspaper to stay abreast of current events. I’m also preparing a list of questions for my first day so I feel prepared and ready. I would rather ask a question about something that I don’t understand than try to complete the task and not know what I’m doing.
There are a lot of facts about this internship that excite me. It is located in Washington, DC which is a city I am unfamiliar with. I’m looking forward to exploring the city and working a traditional 9 am – 5 pm work day. The internship has a heavy emphasis on research, and I’m excited to conduct research on topics that are really interesting to me. Furthermore, I am thrilled to be collaborating on a domestic or international project that will directly impact the work that Oxfam is doing. Overall, I’m just getting generally excited to be living in a new city and working at a company I admire!