William ReedSimply put, this was an amazing opportunity. Everything this program does is meant to help you learn, grow, and make yourself stand out amongst a sea of people hoping to do the same things you are. The ability to improve one’s writing, research, and speaking skills is just the first half of the experience. Having the opportunity to visit a wide variety of government buildings and museums and learn how different agencies and organizations operate was eye-opening and showed all the different paths that are open to motivated individuals.
The bulk of the program revolved around a research topic of your choice that was done alongside a group of others who shared the same topic or question. My group’s overarching topic was a particularly challenging and thought-provoking one. It tested my abilities to think outside of the box when looking for resources, and to be honest, I did feel a little strange researching it at first. While the topic is probably one that would or has been discussed within at least one of the government agencies, I felt out of my element at first, but thanks to my research group leader and my advisor, I was able to learn what a government official expects from a policy paper.
The most helpful part of the program was being able to meet, listen to, and speak to professionals in different career paths. I was able to speak with a few professionals from the path that interests me the most, the State Department, and in doing so, I was able to ease many of my worries and get my most pressing questions answered.
This program was well worth every hour I spent on it. The staff and faculty at IWP genuinely care about molding the next generation of national security professionals, and I highly encourage anyone interested in working for the federal government to apply.
William Reed
Slippery Rock University, Class of 2026
Research Intern