Monthly Archives: June 2018

A Postcard From: Hanna Meyer ’19

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Name: Hanna Meyer
Class Year: 2019
Major: Psychology and Linguistics
Hometown: Mill Valley, Calif.

Internship Placement: Caribbean Primate Research Center
Job Title: Intern
Location: Punta Santiago, Puerto Rico

What’s happening at your internship? 

As I sit to write at my kitchen table I am consumed by the warm tropical air that flows freely though my apartment, carrying with it the distant sound of crashing waves. Just beyond these waves sits Cayo Santiago, La Isla de los Monos reminding me that my fourth week here has come to an end. I am nearly halfway through my internship with the Caribbean Primate Research Center, and thus nearly halfway through my days on “Cayo” (as the researchers refer to it), a small island off the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico inhabited by more than one thousand rhesus macaques. Their ancestors were brought here in the 1930s by researchers who, tired of chasing the monkeys across the jungles of south and southeast Asia, were looking for a more efficient way to study their behavior. Today, thanks to their efforts, the rhesus macaque is one of the most studied species of monkey. Tomorrow, I, as well as several other researchers and staff, will continue to take a small part in carrying through with their mission, as we make our way to the dock and into a small motorboat that will carry us back to the island, and back to the monkeys.

Each morning (Monday through Friday), a group of about 10 people depart for Cayo. Several of these people are boatmen who operate the motorboat and feed the monkeys, along with many other tasks serving to maintain the island and its inhabitants. Several more are staff of the CPRC, including a veterinarian and several census takers who keep track of the wellbeing of the population of monkeys. The rest of us are researchers, grad students or interns (like me), collecting data that, in the case of grad students will be used in their dissertations, and in the case of full-time researchers and interns (like myself), will be used in our supervising primatologist’s current study.

The way each researcher spends their time on Cayo is dependent on the demands of their current research, but in the big picture, the goals are fairly universal: watch monkeys and record their behavior. It’s harder than it sounds. Without considering the work that goes into removing bias and adhering to the scientific method, watching an individual monkey for 30 minutes to several hours at a time requires a tremendous amount of focus and energy. The monkeys move fast, can easily fit under branches and bushes that are impossible to penetrate if you’re above 2 feet tall, and can be very difficult to tell apart from their companions. Oh, and they aren’t afraid to bite a researcher (in fact, a few of them seem to enjoy it). However, that isn’t to say that the work isn’t incredibly rewarding. Five days a week I spend 7 hours on Cayo, following a minimum of 6 individuals for 30 minutes at a time, recording their behavior, location, clique size, and other measurements every 5 minutes. I have never before had the opportunity to work so closely with non-human primates, gotten to hike in the outdoors for work (hike being an elegant phrasing of “chasing monkeys around the jungle”), or been given so much independence in the workplace. Though it has been both frustrating and exhausting at times, and it has been quite a humbling experience to realize how easily I can be outsmarted by a monkey, it has been an amazing experience that has allowed me to immerse myself in a field I dreamt about as a child.

It’s not every day that your primatologist hero emails you back within a single hour, gives you career advice, and pushes you in the direction of an amazing opportunity to study monkeys on an island in Puerto Rico.

Why did you apply for this internship?

Though primatology was my dream profession as a child, somewhere between elementary school and college it was forgotten. It wasn’t until my junior year at Bryn Mawr that I realized my interest in linguistics and psychology both stem from my interest in primatology, but even more importantly I realized that primatology is something that I could seriously pursue. During my junior seminar, a requirement of my psychology major, I shared that I was interested in pursuing primatology, and my professor shared with me the names of two professors at the University of Pennsylvania whose work she suggested I explore. It turned out that the questions they were asking about primates were the same questions that have drawn me to primatology since a young age. I worked up the courage to email these primatologists asking if 1.) their lab was still operating, and 2.) could I please spend my summer working in it. Only one hour later I received a response telling me that unfortunately their lab was closed (as they had retired), but that I would get a much better sense for the field of primatology if I were to spend my time doing fieldwork rather than working in a lab. They proceeded to list a number of locations I may be able to find an internship collecting field data, included Lauren Brent’s work at Cayo Santiago. It’s not every day that your primatologist hero emails you back within a single hour, gives you career advice, and pushes you in the direction of an amazing opportunity to study monkeys on an island in Puerto Rico. After that, I sent a very enthusiastic email to Lauren Brent, and just a few months later, here I am.

What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn’t expect?

This internship, and every aspect of the tiny temporary life I have created here that came with it, has given me a small window into what post-college life may look like. Through this window I have been able to learn a lot about what it means to be an adult, and to be entirely independent and responsible for my own choices, as well as small things like what it means to live alone and to have to create my own after-work life. Since I’ve arrived here I have had to make some difficult choices, like choosing to change my living arrangements, but what I have essentially learned is simple: in both work and life you get out what you put in. One of the most unexpected results of this internship was the way I have been able to become involved with a small local animal rescue operation. It is tiny and disorganized and working its way towards someday (hopefully) stepping up to the status of a real nonprofit organization. However, what is incredible about its current disorganized state is that it is entirely up to every individual how much or little they contribute to this organization, and as a result, how much or little they are involved. In the truest sense, you get out of it what you put in. Being involved with this group has helped me understand the importance of diving in and pursuing a passion, as well as being selfless. Because of the time and energy I have put into this group, I have been blessed by some truly rewarding experiences, some of which coming in the form of friendships with incredible individuals who pour an enormous amount of their own time, energy, and money into both the animals and people of their community. These people are the true embodiment of “you get out what you put in”, and they put more into this community than I ever would have been able to imagine. Leaving this internship in just 6 weeks, I hope that this is something I will be able to take with me through my next year at Bryn Mawr and into my adult life.

Living in a new city? What has that experience been like for you?

When I first arrived in the small town of Punta Santiago, for about one week I experienced a significant amount of culture shock. Though Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico almost one year ago, Punta Santiago is still deep in the process of recovery. However, while the effects of the hurricane are apparent, Punta Santiago’s spirit is just beginning to bubble back to the surface. On the beach, coconuts buried by the storm are beginning to sprout new palms, and dense carpets of seaweed churned up by Maria are beginning to coat the shores, leaving the water clearer and more brilliantly blue. In town, buildings are beginning to find themselves returning to their formal, brightly colored glory. And of course, the Puerto Rican flag is beginning to find itself returning to walls, windows, and lamp posts. While resilience is being practiced every day here in Punta Santiago, Maria has presented researchers with a unique opportunity to study a very similar embodiment of resilience happening on Cayo Santiago. Though very few trees or structures were left standing after the hurricane, not a single monkey died during the storm. Several deaths occurred in the weeks following the storm, likely due to the stress of the traumatic experience, but it is shocking and fascinating that these groups of monkeys, despite their strict social hierarchies, did not lose a single individual as trees fell and debris were thrown around them. It is interesting to be able to live in a town in which the hurricane has disrupted and destroyed so much, and then be able to work and study how the same hurricane affected, and continues to affect, a population of non-human primates living just parallel to shore.

A Postcard From: Sean Keenan ’20

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Name: Sean Keenan
Class Year: 2020
Major: History
Hometown: Brielle, N.J.


Internship Placement: Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
Job Title: Summer Intern
Location: 420 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

Exterior of National Museum of American Jewish History

What’s happening at your internship? 

My internship over the summer is at the Katz Center, a post-doctoral research center which focuses on Jewish civilization. My internship over the summer involves a bunch of small little projects and one large overarching project. My main goal for the summer is to create a timeline of the Katz Center’s history for their website by working with primary documents provided by the center. I’ve also been working on finding images promoting this year’s theme (Jews in Modern Islamic Contexts) for their social media accounts.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I very distinctly remember when I started to look for internships because it was New Years and I figured it was as good enough a time to start to look for work for the summer. I knew I wanted to live in Philadelphia, so I just started to create a list of every museum in Philadelphia and see if they were looking for summer internships. I eventually stumbled upon the National Museum of American Jewish History and applied for their program. They forwarded my application to the Katz Center and after interviewing for the position and hearing what they had to offer, it was a perfect fit. I was being given the chance to both to fine-tune my skills in archives and develop competence in communications.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

I really enjoy the day- to-day work of coming in five times a week and combing over texts and archival materials. Considering my love of archives, it seems like the perfect job for me. I even have my own office, so I get to really spread out and organize my work into piles. I’ve found a lot of cool images so far for their social media campaign and have learned a lot about different aspects of Judaism.

Image from archives

What is most rewarding about your internship?

I’ve gotten the change to meet a lot of well-resourced individuals as a part of my internship. My placement has given me a lot of opportunities to network with both people at the Katz Center and at the National Museum of American Jewish History. I’m getting to learn about how both a museum and a post-doctoral academic institution function.

Office with desk, chair, computer, telephone, bookshelves and paperwork.

My office.

A Postcard From: Leah Baer ’19

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Name: Leah Baer
Class Year: 2019
Major: History
Hometown: Millburn

 

Internship Placement: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Job Title: Living History and Historic Trades Intern
Location: Harpers Ferry, W.Va.

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

I am working as a Living History and Historic Trades intern at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. I spend approximately 95 percent of my time in period piece clothing either conducting a program or staffing one of the exhibits within the park. The program I am giving this summer is called the Road to Resistance. It outlines the struggles African Americans faced when traveling to Harpers Ferry during the Jim Crow era. I will also spend time researching John Brown’s Raid, the industrial history of Harpers Ferry, the Civil War, and the African American experience here. Throughout the summer, our division hosts events that delve into different aspects of 19th century Harpers Ferry. Some of the topics include the evolution of gun manufacturing, baking, artillery, civil war medicine, and Sheridan’s Valley Campaign of 1864. I will also be getting black powder certified so I can fire historic weapons on park property.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I wanted the opportunity to work for a historical park that encapsulates multiple aspects of 19th and 20th century American society. Harpers Ferry interprets phenomena that occurred during the Antebellum Period, such as interchangeable parts, along with the change in the social discourse of the nation as it transitioned from Civil War to Civil Rights. Harpers Ferry is also surrounded by beautiful hiking trails such as Maryland Heights, Loudon Heights, the Appalachian Trail, and Jefferson Rock.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

My favorite part of this internship is the research I am conducting about the students who traveled to Harpers Ferry to attend Storer College. Storer College was a historically black college that existed from 1865 to 1955. Currently, I am conducting preliminary research by contacting local museums, historical societies and Shepherd University to obtain records, testimonials, and photographs of the thousands of the students who attended the school.

Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?

While interning at Harpers Ferry, I am broadening my informal interpretation skills. When a visitor walks into an exhibit, I have to quickly assess what they are interested in learning about and whether they intend to spend a substantial amount of time browsing through the artifacts displayed. I also have to make sure the audience comprehends what I am saying and is able to see the relevancy of the park in modern society. This skill is important if I decide to pursue a career in the National Park Service.

 

A Postcard From: Arya Cheng ’19

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Name: Arya Cheng
Class Year: 2019
Major: Anthropology and French
Hometown: Hong Kong

 

Internship Placement: L’Association Pierre Claver
Job Title: Intern
Location: Paris, France

What’s happening at your internship? 

Pierre Claver is a school dedicated to helping the integration of refugees into French society by providing knowledge, resources, support, and friendship. My role as an intern is to provide administrative and classroom support to the organization. More specifically, I have been heavily involved with the organization of the 10-year anniversary event in July. For this momentous occasion, nine former and current refugee students will be performing a classic French play, Britannicus by Jean Racine, on the stage of a prestigious Parisian theater. Over the last month, we have been working intensely on planning and promoting Britannicus. I am specifically in charge of invitations, which has required me to communicate profusely with others in French via email and face-to-face. In the process, I have learned a lot about the implied and hierarchal rules of writing formal emails in French!

Apart from working in the office, I get the amazing chance to participate in the association’s daily courses and special outings, and also eat a delicious Afghan lunch at the newly opened restaurant. So far, I have joined the chorale, the poetry course, the alphabetization French course, and the B2 French language course.

Why did you apply for this internship?

From studying abroad in Paris for a semester and reading the news, I have learned a lot about the hostile and conservative reactions of European countries toward the mass arrival of refugees. I felt completely heartbroken and powerless. … What can I do as merely a student? As a result, I was determined to find an internship in the summer where I could work at an organization that helped refugees. I want to see how I could contribute. Amongst all the other organizations, Pierre Claver seemed the most grounded because it adopts a personalized and holistic approach in helping refugees build a new life in France. The director of Pierre Claver mentioned once, “if one wants to have a future in France, they must also know its history”. This quote essentially summarizes the essence of Pierre Claver’s mission, which is to educate refugees about France, not just its language, but also its culture, history, music, and art. Although Pierre Claver functions primarily as a school for refugees, it is first and foremost a community that cultivates a space for encounters between the French and the refugees. Thus, I hope that interning at Pierre Claver will teach me how to help refugees, and what it takes to build a resilient sustainable community that values respect, mutual aid and diversity.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

It has been absolutely amazing to get to be part of the amazing Pierre Claver community and form genuine friendships with the people. The staff, the professors, and the refugee students are all extremely kind and open. As an outsider, they have accepted me into their community with open arms. Throughout my day, I hear so many different languages, emblematic of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the community that Pierre Claver has created. I hear every day Arabic, French, English, Hindi, Bengali, Pashto, Dari, and Tibetan. I try to learn something of each language, but unfortunately it is hard to keep it in my head. The highlight of my internship so far is definitely being able to help students in the alphabetization course. Although my French is far from fluent and perfect, it feels so good to be able to contribute and help enthusiastic students who are motivated to master the language. In fact, I am constantly inspired and invigorated by the students’ willingness to learn and embrace difference. In the alphabetization, the professor, the students, and I engaged in an interactive discussion, where each of us introduced the languages we spoke, and in turn, each taught the class how to say simple greetings. Although my brain struggled to retain the association between meaning and the beautiful sounding foreign words in Dari, Pashto, and Arabic, it was for me a symbolic moment that captured how one idea or meaning are expressed in so many different ways around the world, and that not one is more just or correct than another. I am extremely lucky to be able to learn from and be part of the flourishing, diverse, and multilingual community that is Pierre Claver. 

What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn’t expect?

My initial impression of the internship at Pierre Claver is that as an intern I will have a list of tasks to complete and a strict schedule to follow every day. However, I was just given tasks to complete, without strict guidelines on how I should achieve them. At Bryn Mawr and throughout my life in school, my work was monitored by the comments and advice of my professors. In this work setting, I felt very insecure doing even the simplest of tasks because I did not receive expert opinion and reassurance on each step of my work. The newfound freedom and responsibility were daunting, but in the process the working experience has made me more self-assured, self-disciplined, and comfortable with taking initiative.

 

A Postcard From: Namrata Basu ’19

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Name: Namrata Basu
Class Year: 2019
Major: Mathematics

Internship Placement: MathILy
Job Title: Program Aide

For a part of this summer, I’m working with MathILy (Mathematics infused with levity), a residential summer program for high school students. It takes place on Bryn Mawr College’s campus.

Being a math major at a liberal arts college, this program fits right into that experience. Students from different parts of the country, and the world, come to learn and grow not only as academic scholars, but also as individuals. The program is five weeks of looking at mMath and at life through different lenses, which is similar to what I’ve experienced at Bryn Mawr. It’s not just plugging numbers into a formula or rote learning a theorem; it’s questioning, analyzing, reading and writing!

I’ve always loved math and being in conversations with like-minded people was great. My position is a program aide. My duties include being a residential counselor, supervising and supporting students, managing logistics. All the duties mentioned above relate to the on-campus positions I hold. So, it’s a good opportunity for me to grow in those positions and hone the skills I’ve developed at Bryn Mawr.

I also like interacting with high school students; they are at such an exciting age where they are eager to learn and to try new things. I like the idea of being able to contribute to their learning curves. It’s also nice to see the community we have even if it’s only for five weeks. Bryn Mawr provided me with a community that’s there for me when I’m trying to figure out who I am, and I see that with this program, too. It’s a community of people from different walks of life who want to support you in whatever you’re doing.

This experience has given me the chance to think about life after Bryn Mawr — what it would be like to have a “real” job. It was also interesting to see Bryn Mawr in the summer. It’s a different vibe. Overall, these five weeks have been a huge learning curve!

A Postcard From: Rachel Silverman ’19

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Name: Rachel Silverman
Class Year: 2019
Major: Religion and Sociology
Hometown: Freehold, N.J.

Internship Placement: Keshet
Job Title: Advocacy Intern
Location: Boston

What’s happening at your internship? 

I’m interning at Keshet, a national organization that works for full LGBTQ equality and inclusion in Jewish life. My main focus is on the Massachusetts Ballot Initiative. In 2016, Massachusetts passed protections for transgender people in public spaces, and this November there will be a measure trying to repeal the law. Keshet is mobilizing the Massachusetts Jewish community to stand up for transgender rights and ensure that these important protections remain.

As part of this effort, I am reaching out to and following up with different Jewish organizations and communities in Massachusetts about getting involved in our campaign. My big project will be leading a Jewish Community Canvas Day in July. I am also organizing and moderating a webinar to educate the Jewish community on this campaign and how they can take action. Another project is working with our rabbinic intern on creating a resource that Jewish clergy can use to incorporate the campaign in their High Holiday services—from trans text studies, to ideas for sermons, to alternative rituals they can do to honor transgender lives and commit to trans advocacy.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I am extremely interested in Jewish social justice. Much of this comes from my academics; as a religion and sociology dual major I have learned about faith-based organizing. Last summer, I did a Jewish social justice program in D.C. and interned at a nonprofit where I got to see how faith-based advocacy operates on a federal level. Then, through the LILAC Externship Program, I shadowed two rabbis who are advocates in their communities. This is the kind of leader I want to be, and I now plan on becoming a rabbi and community organizer.

On the last day of my D.C. internship last summer, my supervisor told me that she wants to “fight for people like her.” That really struck a chord in me; I want to advocate for my communities. Our Hillel rabbinic intern suggested that I intern at Keshet; when I found out that an LGBTQ Jewish nonprofit exists, I immediately knew that this was my next step. I am lucky enough to have a rabbinic student and organizer as my supervisor, which makes this experience even more helpful and meaningful.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

I represented Keshet at an event raising awareness for the ballot initiative where Joy Ladin, a trans Jewish professor and poet, spoke. Last semester, I read her memoir for my Queer Religion class at Haverford, so I was extremely excited. I had planned on incorporating her work into my senior thesis, and here she was! I had the opportunity to ask her questions relating to my thesis firsthand, and she told me she’d be happy to stay in touch. What I thought would simply be an interview for my thesis turned into a two-hour very sincere and mutual conversation. I went from being her fan to making a hopefully lifelong connection!

What is most rewarding about your internship?

I love how representing Keshet at events has allowed me to connect with people in the community. The best experience was when I staffed our table at Pride. I held a sign with a rainbow Star of David that read “proud to be queer and Jewish.” I loved seeing people’s faces light up as they saw the sign and ran to my table. Many of them had no idea that a Jewish LGBTQ organization existed, and as I told them about the work we do and ways they can get involved, it was great seeing how happy they were (many were shocked, because like me, many people were brought up thinking Jewishness and queerness were incompatible).

A Postcard From: Rachel Hertzberg ’19

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Name: Rachel Hertzberg
Class Year: 2019
Major: English and Spanish
Hometown: Minneapolis 

Wyck House window looking onto outdoor patio

Internship Placement: Historic Wyck House
Job Title: Collections Intern
Location: Germantown, Pa.

What’s happening at your internship? 

The Wyck House is a small house museum that houses over 300 years of history. The home remained in the hands of one Quaker family for nine generations, and over the years, the family was meticulous about collecting and preserving artifacts for posterity. The house museum has an incredible collection of household objects, furniture, books, and clothing. Much of this collection can only be seen in person—it has very little digital/online presence.

Wyck House interior room with four chairs, sofa and table

Embroidery artwork at Wyck House

This amazing artwork was embroidered by a descendent of the family who lived at Wyck, and it shows the lineage of the family, starting with Hans Milan, who bought the property in the 1680s, and going all the way down to the house’s very last occupants in the 1980s. The border is embroidered with plants found in the Wyck gardens. The entire piece took a decade to complete!

As a Collections Intern, I’m hoping to research museum digital policies to help Wyck begin to formulate its own. In my research of the collection, I also plan to write short articles and blog posts to be made available online, in order to attract interest to the museum, and inform members of the community about the collection’s hidden gems.

Journal and book

Why did you apply for this internship?

I was inspired to apply for this internship by my interest in American history. Last year, I volunteered at another local small historic home, and this experience made me excited to pursue another similar opportunity, but with some more responsibilities.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

My favorite aspect of Wyck is its hidden beauty; the house is somewhat hidden from the street by a fence, and no one I have talked to has ever even heard of Wyck! This is something I hope will change in the future, and one reason I believe the museum should have a stronger online presence. At the same time, there’s something special about engaging with historical objects that have been so isolated and preserved for so long. Stepping inside the fence is like entering another world, with its heritage garden and white stucco walls.

Fence and flowers outside of Wyck House Wyck House front door and pink flowers

Living in a new city? What has that experience been like for you?

I am living in an apartment in Philadelphia with two roommates. The experience has been an exciting new challenge. I’ve had to learn how to navigate public transportation and stick to a budget; so far I’ve had my fair share of success and failure with both! I’m lucky that my internship has been very flexible with hours and scheduling, so that I have time to explore the city. Being able to just wander around and be a part of the city is an experience that I have not had while living on campus, so I’m very grateful for this opportunity.

 

A Postcard From: Romy Dangol ’19

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Name: Romy Dangol
Class Year: 2019
Major: Mathematics
Hometown: Lalitpur, Nepal

Internship Placement: LITS, Bryn Mawr College
Job Title: Digital Curriculum Intern

What’s happening at your internship? 

I am working as a Digital Curriculum Intern with LITS (Library Information and Technology Services) this summer. It has just been a couple of weeks at work, but I am already involved in new and interesting projects like designing online interactive digital competencies training activities; designing an augmented reality library scavenger-hunt game for students; assisting faculty with seed grants on blended learning resources; and creating and editing Moodle activities.

I have also done research on designing digital assignments. I have organized and managed data on digital competencies that the students have gained in the past summer, and I have learned to create Moodle features like quizzes, lessons for adaptive learning, and feedback surveys. As part of my internship, I have been doing a lot of problem-solving through testing and re-testing. Other interns in the room also volunteer to run and assess the new Moodle activities and give immediate feedback, which is very helpful. We often bounce ideas off one another and incorporate them to create a better version of the model we are currently working on.

It has been a great learning experience so far and I am looking forward to the rest of my summer here.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I applied for this internship because I was interested in learning more about the digital competencies and also in developing my own digital skills further. In addition, I wanted to explore the different types of technological advances in the education sector and use these tools to create digital content to engage learners.

Was there anything special about how you found this internship? 

I was actually presenting my work from last summer’s internship during our Bryn Mawr and Beyond presentation in 2017. There I got the chance to meet Jennifer Spohrer and share my summer experience as a Data & Strategy intern with her.  After learning about my interests in data and technology, she told me about the LITS summer internship opportunities. Here I am now.

What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn’t expect?

I knew coming in that I would learn about project management because of the various projects that I was going to be involved in. However, I did not expect to gain intensive knowledge about managing project constraints, design thinking, planning, and communicating the projects efficiently. These are all valuable skills and I am glad I received the chance to participate in different workshops to hone my skills.

A Postcard From: Connie Chan ’19

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Name: Connie Chan
Class Year: 2019
Major: Chemistry concentration, Biochemistry, minor in Computer Science
Hometown: Somerville, Mass.

Internship Placement: Haverford College
Job Title: Postbac Research Assistant

What’s happening at your internship? 

I am currently diving into a lot of computational tools. There are a lot of quantum chemistry points of view that I am trying to understand because combining physics with chemistry is honestly mind blowing. Add biology and computer science to the mix and you really have yourself a summer full of learning. I am trying to use quantum chemistry to characterize hydrogen bonding in hopes to find a new characterization method that is currently not considered with protein modeling.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I was really interested in learning more about material science after taking a course with the PI that I am currently with. In particular, I am interested in learning more about biomaterials. Rather than being someone who is interacting with patients and seeing to their care firsthand, I enjoy being someone who is capable of improving someone’s health from behind the scenes. I am still trying to understand a balance between what I want to do in the future and what I truly enjoy because it is hard to adult at times.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?

The code and knowledge blocks, but this is all part of the process. While it can really be hard to overcome blocks and move on, when you finally succeed and understand what is going on, you realize how far you truly have come. It’s always hard to put yourself first and truly understand yourself at times when you are faced with a lot of work and challenges, so I hope to also stay true to myself and be happy with what I am doing.

What are three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?

Adjectives: challenging, rewarding, interdisciplinary

Nouns: quantum chemistry, computer science, protein stability

A Postcard From: Sophia Bokhari ’20  

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Name: Sophia Bokhari 
Class Year: 2020
Major: Political Science and History
Hometown: Egg Harbor Township, N.J.

Internship Placement:  Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program at the University of Pennsylvania
Job Title: Data Collection Project Lead and Research Intern
Location: Philadelphia

What’s happening at your internship? 

I am doing research on think tanks and their role in civil society, specifically in the Middle East and North Africa regions.

Why did you apply for this internship?

I applied for this internship because an upperclassman at Bryn Mawr referred this opportunity to me. I noticed that a lot of Bryn Mawr students had participated in it, especially students with similar academic interests as myself, so I thought it would be a worthwhile experience.

 Was there anything special about how you found this internship?

I had come back to campus about a week early in the fall. One night, around midnight, I walked into Lusty Cup to print something out and I saw my friend. We ended up talking for a long time about what we did over the summer, and she told me about this internship. I think I probably would not have been so inclined to go after this opportunity had I not heard about my friend’s experience and it may not have been on my radar either.

What are three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?

Intense. Independent. Inspiring.

Challenge. Leadership. Advancement.