WISH Internships: Intern Spotlight (Spring 2014)
Robert King
Major: Criminal Justice
Internship: Interpol
My spring 2014 internship was definitely an experience to remember. I was excited to come to Washington D.C. because of the incredible time I knew I’d have, and the potential to meet great people. D.C. lived up to my expectations and gave me more to do than I could imagine. I am from Baltimore, Maryland, so I’d been to D.C. often, but living in here gave me a totally different view.
My ambition to intern in Washington arose from a desire to work with federal law enforcement agencies. What better place to be, where many of the agencies are headquartered? What better way to network, gain experience, and see how law enforcement operates behind the scenes and outside of the classroom? Even for those who are not pursuing a law enforcement career, there are so any different fields to pursue in the nation’s capital.
My Internship was with Interpol Washington. The mission of INTERPOL Washington, the United States National Central Bureau, is to advance the law enforcement interests of the United States as the official representative to the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL); to share criminal justice, humanitarian, and public safety information between our nation’s law enforcement community and its foreign counterparts, and to facilitate transnational investigative efforts that enhance the safety and security of the United States. I worked closely with law enforcement agents from all over, including the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, U.S. Secret Service, ICE, CBP and many more. That was probably the most exciting part about the internship; you could work so close with analysts and agents. These are people I desire to become and I was working right next to them. Washington D.C. provides that experience.
Outside of the Internship, Washington D.C. provides many different venues to stay active. There are things such as the national mall, unique festivals, sports events, Chinatown and many more exciting places and things to do. If you fear and are intimidated by the big, busy city, don’t be. You are not alone. If you chose to embark on a journey to D.C., you will have many other peers you will meet that are just like you. Also wish does a great job of making sure you become acclimated and comfortable with your environment. From a former intern, if you choose to do an internship in Washington D.C. you will be making one of the best, most beneficial decisions of your collegiate career and life.