Letter to Supervisor

Dear Eileen,

I would like to thank you for giving me this tremendous internship opportunity in the Office of Public Liaison. I've had nothing but fantastic experiences here that have spawned memories and invaluable work experience that I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.

Interning here was eye-opening to the way Federal Government operates, and getting to be a part of it was surreal. Something as simple as setting up informal briefings or coordinating special events brought me a great amount of satisfaction. I've found that this is the kind of "hands on" public sector work is something I really enjoy, and I owe part of that realization to this office and to you.

I would also like to thank you, and the entire office, for welcoming me in as one of your own. It goes a long way when someone can go to work and feel welcome and vital to the organization's mission. There was never a time where I felt like I was in others' way or slowing people down. Everyone was patient, accepting, and above all, friendly. This is something I will never forget and reminds me of just how great it is to work in a teamwork focused environment.

It's truly regrettable that my State Department internship has expired because I would love to continue working. Despite leaving soon, I take great pride in the work I've done and the experience you've provided me. I've enjoyed the experience so much that I would consider returning to Washington, D.C. after I graduate a very strong possibility.

I can't thank you enough for the incredible opportunity you've provided me with here at the State Department. I will keep in touch with you, and everyone else in the office. Keep up the great work!

Sincerely,

Travis Kester

The Ultimate Learning Experience

My time at the State Department has been exciting and extremely educational. I learned so much, so much so it's impossible to describe everything in just one blog post. My biggest goal coming in was to see what it was like working for a large federal agency like the State Department. As I went I saw how things work from the inside, and unsurprisingly communication and teamwork is key for success (much like my work at the Arizona State Senate). I view the State Department as a giant network of cogs, every part has to function properly for the rest to work. Seeing this from the inside was eye-opening and certainly helped prepare me for my future work in government, wherever that may be.

My other goal was to learn how we communicate the mission of foreign policy and prosperous international relations to domestic and foreign audiences. Fortunately for me I worked in the bureau that deals with this specific subject matter. I saw student engagement, speeches, special events, policy classrooms, press relations, and everything in between. All of this helps the State Department communicate with and educate those around us. It helped me reaffirm the belief that the work here is important at every level, and it was a thrill to be a part of it. I think sometime outreach can get lost in the grand scheme of things and it's always important to remember the importance of engaging with others.

The last, and possibly most important learning aspect of my internship, was to see if the State Department would be a place that I would be interested in pursuing a career with. After my 2 and a half months I can safely say that I would absolutely consider working here in the future. I will go a step further than "consider" and say that I would really love to pursue a career here after I graduate. The people, atmosphere, and the city itself make this an ideal place to pursue meaningful work. The are opportunities here are immense and the work being done is important and crucial for US interest.

I learned so much that I will take with me moving forward. This experience has been invaluable and provided  me with wonderful "real world" job expertise. I have a long way to go, life is a constant learning experience after all, but I feel more confident in my direction than ever before. Experiencing DC government life and culture first hand was exactly what I needed. I'll be sad to go, but I've made a ton of good friends and professional connections since I moved here in October. I will round out my trip back in Seattle to spend the holidays with my family, and then it's back to Tempe for my "true" senior year as a Sun Devil.

Thanks to everyone who kept up with my blog, please feel free to add me on Facebook or Intstagram.

facebook.com/traviskester
instagram username:travykid