Christopher Brogger ’15

Major(s):Undeclared
Internship Site: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America - New York, NY

The Internship:  
I had heard about the IAVA through Facebook, and I “liked” their page. Back in April, I saw an ad for summer internships they were offering in New York City and Washington DC, and I did a little more research.  I wasn’t entirely sure I would get it, since the requirements seemed a little out of my league, but after submitting my resume and a having few phone interviews, I was offered a position as an intern in the Member Engagement department.   

I coordinated event planning, did phone-banking prior to events, responded to emails and phone calls from members, and performed other tasks on an as needed basis. Working on site at the events was definitely my favorite experience. A jobs fair we hosted back in July had a great turnout, and while I was there it was encouraging to see the practical effects of all the weeks of hard work. 


The Preparation:  
I attend Army ROTC and take Military Science at Dickinson, and having that basic level understanding of the military and its terminology, practices, and history was quite useful in working with all the veterans. Aside from that, the time management skills I learned in many of my classes were useful at work.


Making Connections:  
All the staff was helpful. But the people in my department were especially friendly and outgoing, showing me plenty of tricks to help minimize my workload and get things done better.  One of my supervisors always helped me along the way and improved my experience greatly. 


Tips from Christopher:
Make sure the work is something you really care about. Most internships, like mine, are unpaid.  Taking part in a cause you really care about can do a lot more to get you out of bed early on a summer morning than a paycheck can. 


*To find out more about how to get an internship, make an appointment with a career counselor. Just call the Career Center at 717-245-1740 or stop by Biddle House.