PESA recently celebrated the organization’s latest cohort of 25 college interns as they wrapped up their semester-long internship. These students come from universities across Los Angeles such as Loyola Marymount University, University of Southern California, and California State University, Northridge.
PESA’s College Internship program is coordinated by Assistant Directors of Internships, Amanda Flores and Cheyenne Clopton. The program gives interns first-hand experience to explore the work PESA does at the forefront of advocacy, mentorship and education. After weekly educational workshops, interns are tasked with proctoring Teen Court sessions, developing and hosting workshops for high school students and researching state policy before drafting their position letters for elected officials to consider.
When asked to describe what made PESA’s internship program special, Clopton shared, “I think the program is unique in that it gives the interns experiences that they might not have otherwise thought of. It opens their eyes to opportunities that don't just limit them. You can be a lawyer, but also be involved in education. You can be a policymaker, but also be involved in the law.”
Kaylee Chen, a graduating intern who is a junior at USC, shares that the educational tasks she completed at local schools were her favorite part of the program. “For me, I really liked my school assignment at Chatsworth High School doing mock interviews. Some of the kids in the beginning were really nervous. I saw myself in them, so it felt good to help and give encouraging advice that will help them in the future.”
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