Washington, D.C. is an amazing place to spend the summer. It is especially great when you are able to find an internship. I am a senior at Penn State, and I am currently interning for the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM). Not only am I working on projects that are related to what I want to do in the future, but I am also meeting a bunch of new people and exploring the city.

I found the internship through the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network Symplicity system.  I applied to at least 50 different internships throughout the school year, and the one at AAM was exactly what I was looking for.  I am their Social Media intern, and I work with their Digital Media person as well as with others throughout the office.

AAM is a bi-partisan, non-profit organization and partnership that is working to strengthen manufacturing in the United States.  They employ their social media to inform and open people up to the idea that both ends of the political spectrum should be in support of American manufacturing and American made products.

There are two Penn State alumni working at AAM, and it is beneficial having people who know exactly where I’m coming from as a Penn Stater. Alumni can be a very important factor in finding an internship or job, but they can also help you make your transition into a company that they are already very involved in.

My internship has me involved in all aspects of Social Media.  I am blogging, organizing and improving their YouTube, Flickr, and Twitter accounts, as well as providing input on the creation of their Tumblr and other Social Media outlets that could be valuable to AAM’s cause. I have also spent time on Capitol Hill and at several conferences that have completely opened up my mind to the way the political world functions.  That may seem a bit odd, but until I had these experiences, it had never fully occurred to me that these are the people who are in total control of our country.

As for my future after this internship, I want to attend graduate school for Marketing with a focus on Digital and Social Media after I graduate in December. The work I am doing and experience I have gained at AAM will definitely set me apart from other applicants in the field for both college applications and future job opportunities.   

The most important part about having this internship for me is the involvement in and out of the office.  Working in front of a computer and with professionals has taught me a lot about what I am pursuing as a career and how to pursue it. At the same time, I have gained a new perspective on the professional world that I think all college students would benefit from acquiring.

Washington, D.C. is definitely a great place to spend a summer when it comes to experiences outside of the working world. I am officially a self-declared professional commuter, by metro and car, and I have learned how to establish myself in a community outside of the two places I am most comfortable, my hometown and State College.

My time at the Alliance for American Manufacturing has solidified my goals for future jobs as well as improved my professional and life skills.  It is a great environment to work in and I would most definitely suggest that anyone interested in politics or social media look into the organization.