University of Washington

As Huskies, UW students are encouraged to be boundless and stretch their learning outside the classroom. One of the best ways to do this is through an internship. Internships offer a great opportunity to apply academic knowledge in a real-world setting and to explore what types of careers an education in history could lead to. Internships in the social sciences may also give students the opportunity to use their skills and education for public service. The Department of History is committed to supporting our students' development and impact beyond the university. During spring quarter, several history majors took part in a series of presentations and a panel discussion titled Exploring Internships in the Social Sciences, as part of the Carlson Leadership and Public Service Center's Spring Celebration of Service and Leadership. One participant was Laura Anuakpado, a double major in history and political science, who recently interned at the King County Bar Association (KCBA) Neighborhood Legal Clinics. Interested in pursuing law after graduation, she first heard about this opportunity in a conversation with Nell Gross, the former Department of History undergraduate advisor, about opportunities for career development. History in Action In her position as an intake and referral intern, Anuakpado was exposed to legal matters and gained hands-on experience through client interactions. She was responsible for scheduling free 30-minute consultations with attorneys and connecting clients with resources and information to help empower clients to find solutions to their issues. "M Y FAVORI T E T HING A B OU T M Y P OSI T ION WA S HE A RING T HE OPT IMISM IN T HE CL IEN T S' VOICES ONCE T HEIR L EGA L IS SUES H A D BEEN RES OLV ED." Anuakpado's passion for social justice led her to this internship, and to a major in history. She recognizes how her education informed her time at the KCBA. "From my experience as an intern, and double major in history and political science, I see how deeply history and law are intertwined. The basic premises of many legal decisions have been based on the historical perspective of past precedents." This is something Jane Park, another Department of History major, also found during her internship. Jane is currently interning for PeaceTrees Vietnam. This nonprofit organization focuses on helping communities heal from the legacy of the Vietnam War. Working with local communities, the organization removes explosives left over from the conflict and returns land to productive use. PeaceTrees also builds schools and libraries to educate future generations and "advance economic development to ensure a prosperous tomorrow." As an intern, Park helps with fundraising events in Seattle and develops social media content, specifically awareness campaigns, for the organization's website. "There is a direct link between my interest in history and the work I do at PeaceTrees, which is why I was so drawn to the organization in the first place. I am interested in history because everything that has happened in the past affects society today, in big ways and small. The existence of this organization proves the ways that history still interacts with our present. The legacies of war, in the form of unexploded land mines, continue to threaten the lives of Vietnamese." The experiences of Laura Anuakpado and Jane Park demonstrate the diverse opportunities that can be opened up by a degree in history and also how social science majors are, and will continue to be, important forces for change and progress in the local community and beyond. HUSK Y HISTORIANS EXPLORE THEIR PROFESSIONAL POTENTIAL THROUGH INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES JANE PARK LAURA ANUAKPADO 4  U N I V E R S I T Y O F W A S H I N G T O N

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