For more than 40 years, the Institute of Politics has provided support for rising sophomores, juniors and seniors to pursue a summer internship in public service. The signature offerings of the IOP’s Summer of Service program engages more than 150 students with meaningful experiences in politics and public service. From working for elected officials to non-profits, federal, state and local governments, activist groups and think tanks – IOP Summer of Service students immerse themselves in issues and policies for eight weeks as they explore opportunities and careers with public purpose.
Daniel Brickhill '22 reflects on his summer working with American Enterprise Institute.
How has your internship pushed you outside your comfort zone? What did you learn from the experience?
Think tank scholars, as their name suggests, are at the forefront of understanding new issues as they arise. As a result, when I am tasked with doing research, it's often into fields that are not very well developed. I have to learn how to get more creative with my research and memo writing. Even though this is difficult at times, it's helped me build confidence in my ability to innovate and adapt!
What have you learned about public service from your internship? How has your internship impacted how you think about public service?
There are so many ways to influence policy outside of elective office. I have watched the scholars for whom I work publish pieces arguing for a policy change, and then just days later, government officials adopt that policy. It's refreshing to watch the power of persuasion be so effective in the real world.