Jessica Poteet ’15

Major(s): Undeclared
Internship Site: Fracking Truth Alliance of Lawrence and Mercer Counties - Volant, PA

The Internship:   
My parents were already a part of the Fracking Truth Alliance and mentioned to the leader that I would be in town for the summer. I contacted her and we set up the internship. I also knew that FTA was working with ALLARM from Dickinson for a water quality workshop and I that would be working at ALLARM during the school year so I thought it would be a perfect fit!

Our major project was setting up a water quality monitoring workshop to protect the area’s rivers and streams from potential contamination by fracking. I live in a small town, and the big problem we faced was getting enough volunteers to meet ALLARM’s minimum of 15 people. When I started, the group had only two people signed up but I started advertising the event and writing newspaper articles about it and we ended up with 30 people.  This project was probably my favorite because I felt like it did the most good.

The Challenges:   
The most challenging part of the experience for me was talking to the residents of my town about fracking.  I held a fracking information booth in our farmers’ market every Saturday.  Most residents were very supportive and respective, but I dreaded the few who became angry when they saw my signs.  To overcome this, I tried to remember the positive people I met.

The Future:  
This internship has reinforced my plan to work in an environmentally focused career. From my experience, I have learned about the ups and downs of working for a nonprofit group. Although I am still unsure of my exact career path, I am glad for the experience in FTA.

Tips from Jessica: 
Ask family members and friends about opportunities. Also, remember that you can always make your own internship--just ask. Pick something you are passionate about.


*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.