NeW is proud to highlight the great internship opportunities NeW women are experiencing in the workplace. Meet Simonne Lenseigne, vice president of NeW at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an intern for The Heritage Foundation. Simonne shares more about her internship:
Where are you interning and what is your job title?
I am an intern at The Heritage Foundation‘s Events and Programming Department. The Heritage Foundation focuses on “individual freedom, free enterprise, limited government, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.” As an avid organizer with passionate political beliefs, this has been an incredible summer for me to work at an organization that largely shares my values and learn how to execute effortless and classy events that help propel these beliefs.
Why did you apply for this internship?
From the policy side, I wanted to work as an intern for Heritage this summer because it aligns with my values. I want to see this organization succeed in achieving its mission, and Heritage will provide me with world-class exposure to the field of work I am pursuing. Firstly, I believe that it is a privilege to work for an organization that not only respects one’s core values but also actively strives to promote and foster them. Secondly, I genuinely believe in the mission and vision of Heritage, and I want to see the Foundation’s goals come to fruition through the hard work of its interns. I believe I have an expansive array of talents and a good background, character, and work ethic from which Heritage staff will benefit. As a U.S. citizen who has lived 7.5 years abroad in Thailand, Turkey, and South Africa, I have a multi-faceted worldview that has been shaped by my experiences with different cultures and my pursuit of what is good, beautiful, and true. I have spent six years serving refugee populations in the Middle East, South Africa, and the U.S., which has challenged my preconceived notions of migrants. I have held various leadership positions both on stage and behind the scenes, such as being the President of my Turning Point USA Chapter, a Campus Ambassador for the Leadership Institute, and serving as the Treasurer for my Student Council and Students for Life Chapter. I have now taken on the role of Vice President for my NeW chapter as well! And finally, Heritage has the utmost expertise, efficacy, prestige, and respect in the conservative world of politics. Heritage has the best to offer its interns because of its proximity to our nation’s capital and governing bodies, its catered focus to particular areas of interest, and its trust in its interns to be responsible and contributing members of its team.
How does this internship help set you up for your career dreams?
As a double major in both Biology, B.A., and Political Science B.A., I am working toward making an overdose-free America. I am studying how different pharmaceuticals affect the human body and the federal and state laws governing drug use, which guide the ongoing conversation of the opioid epidemic in the United States. I hope that I can take my knowledge and research and use it to lobby and pass pro-life laws that protect every human being from the fatal spiral of substance misuse and addiction. By working at Heritage and learning the “ins and outs” of researching, policy drafting, and lobbying, I hope to build a solid foundation that supports my future career goals.
Any advice for other women who are looking for an internship?
The best advice I’ve ever received comes from my late grandmother. She always preached, “The worst they can say is ‘no.’” So, you might as well ask! I applied to my Heritage internship as a sophomore in college, even though the listing says you have to be a junior or higher. I figured I’d put my name in the hat anyway, and miraculously I landed a job there! I would have never gotten that internship if I had been afraid of being turned away and decided it wasn’t worth my time to at least try.
I first realized this mindset was powerful when I moved to Turkey. There, I developed my father’s taste in classic rock and discovered a particular fondness for the band Journey. One Sunday morning, I noticed the Philippine Ambassador sitting toward the plastered walls of our cosmopolitan church. My target was a dark-haired, olive-toned, colorfully dressed diplomat. I approached her and asked, “Do you know the band Journey?” Startled and chuckling, she charitably replied, “I do! Do you know who Arnel Pineda is?” I acknowledged I knew he was the lead singer and naively asked, “Since you have connections to the Philippines, would you be able to bring Arnel to Turkey to perform for us someday?” I suppose this bold inquisition seemed like an outrageous appeal, as she laughed for a considerable period before acknowledging the sincerity in my expression. Months later, I received a video message from Arnel, and soon after that, I was able to meet him backstage before a concert in Seattle. To this day, we keep in touch with Arnel and have met him before several of his concerts.
This is just one example of how this mindset has opened up a sea of opportunities for me, like becoming the president of a club during my freshman year of college and being able to discuss pressing topics with key political figures. So, when reflecting on my accomplishments, the common denominator appears to be that I am unafraid of being told “no!” In the unfailing words of the Bible: “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be open” (Matthew 7:7).
