Frannie Carley '10 (Cumberland, Maine) is trying something totally new this summer. A rising junior, she has always had "typical summer jobs," she says, working in retail and in restaurants. This summer, however, she wanted to go beyond a summer job and find an internship that would allow her to work in a nonprofit, using her interests in philosophy and government. "I wanted to test the waters of a real job and do some career exploration," she says, "but I knew that I'd need Hamilton's help if I was going to get to explore the nonprofit sector."
Carley sought out different organizations in Portland, Maine that concentrate on legal advocacy and public service work, and eventually found an internship with the Maine Civil Liberties Union, working directly with the Field Organizer on several different projects. Since her internship is unpaid, she applied for a grant from Hamilton's Joseph F. Anderson '44 Internship Fund, which provides stipends to support full-time internships for students wishing to expand their educational horizons in preparation for potential careers after graduation.
At the Maine Civil Liberties Union, Carley is able to do just that. "I have been able to do an incredible amount of career exploration," she says, "having seen public education, legal advocacy, lobbying, publicity efforts, and the inner workings of a non-profit all first hand." Carley is currently helping on the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition, which collaborates with other organizations to improve the image of the state's growing immigrant population, as well as working with a movement to repeal a Maine law related to the national REAL ID Act. Her work includes assisting with public education, lobbying, mobilizing members, and facilitating collaboration between organizations. She has also been able to observe the union's legal advisor and attend a press conference with the publicity coordinator. "It's been great to be in a position where I feel like my education is coming in handy and where I feel that I'm a valuable part of a team," she says.
One of the best parts of her internship, Carley says, is the practical effect her work has in the world. "Instead of studying things that have already happened or theories about what might happen and why, I'm actually part of things that are happening right now," she explains. "The referendum that I'm working on right now could have a real-life impact on the citizens of Maine." It can be a little more challenging to talk to strangers and get them excited about the issues, she says, but she anticipates that the people skills she's practicing this summer will prove to be very useful in the future.
In general, Carley's experience this summer is one of discovery. "Internships are all about exploration, figuring out what you like and don't like for the future," she says. Although she is unsure whether she'll continue either in civil liberties advocacy or in the non-profit sector, she has enjoyed the chance to learn about so many different aspects of what the organization does, and says she plans to stay involved with the American Civil Liberties Union. For her particular career goals, Carley says that with interests in philosophy, international politics and development, and travel, she still has "a lot more to explore." She hopes to continue to uncover possibilities during the coming year, which she will spend abroad, studying in Denmark for the fall and in Kenya during the spring.
-- by Laura Bramley
Carley sought out different organizations in Portland, Maine that concentrate on legal advocacy and public service work, and eventually found an internship with the Maine Civil Liberties Union, working directly with the Field Organizer on several different projects. Since her internship is unpaid, she applied for a grant from Hamilton's Joseph F. Anderson '44 Internship Fund, which provides stipends to support full-time internships for students wishing to expand their educational horizons in preparation for potential careers after graduation.
At the Maine Civil Liberties Union, Carley is able to do just that. "I have been able to do an incredible amount of career exploration," she says, "having seen public education, legal advocacy, lobbying, publicity efforts, and the inner workings of a non-profit all first hand." Carley is currently helping on the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition, which collaborates with other organizations to improve the image of the state's growing immigrant population, as well as working with a movement to repeal a Maine law related to the national REAL ID Act. Her work includes assisting with public education, lobbying, mobilizing members, and facilitating collaboration between organizations. She has also been able to observe the union's legal advisor and attend a press conference with the publicity coordinator. "It's been great to be in a position where I feel like my education is coming in handy and where I feel that I'm a valuable part of a team," she says.
One of the best parts of her internship, Carley says, is the practical effect her work has in the world. "Instead of studying things that have already happened or theories about what might happen and why, I'm actually part of things that are happening right now," she explains. "The referendum that I'm working on right now could have a real-life impact on the citizens of Maine." It can be a little more challenging to talk to strangers and get them excited about the issues, she says, but she anticipates that the people skills she's practicing this summer will prove to be very useful in the future.
In general, Carley's experience this summer is one of discovery. "Internships are all about exploration, figuring out what you like and don't like for the future," she says. Although she is unsure whether she'll continue either in civil liberties advocacy or in the non-profit sector, she has enjoyed the chance to learn about so many different aspects of what the organization does, and says she plans to stay involved with the American Civil Liberties Union. For her particular career goals, Carley says that with interests in philosophy, international politics and development, and travel, she still has "a lot more to explore." She hopes to continue to uncover possibilities during the coming year, which she will spend abroad, studying in Denmark for the fall and in Kenya during the spring.
-- by Laura Bramley
