HUMANITIES Internship SPOTLIGHT | Daphne Garcia

Daphne Garcia is a Communication major with an emphasis in Strategic Communication. She has been interning at the Ban Law Office this semester. She was looking for an internship specifically for students interested in law, medicine, or veteran advocacy. Her passion for advocacy and helping disabled veterans navigate the Veterans Administration (VA) appeal system stems from her personal experience as a spouse of a disabled veteran. “As someone with high justice sensitivity, advocating for people that lack the resources to information or need a stronger voice to receive the benefits they are entitled to, aligns with my goals. Advocacy involves specific and strategic messaging to effect changes in policy, programs, and practice," she said.

Garcia says the skills she has developed through her classes have been crucial to her internship work. "The soft skills necessary to be an advocate, such as people skills, have been strengthened by the hard skills I've learned in Public Speaking, Strategic Communication, Media Writing, Advocacy & Change, and Quantitative Communication Research," she explained. Her internship role as a Veterans Disability Advocate involves extensive research, persuasive writing, and maintaining client privacy.

For students considering similar internships, Garcia offers valuable advice. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between internship, academic, and personal commitments. She says that you should be honest about how many hours you can realistically work while prioritizing your education. Her specific approach for success involves dedicating two days to her internship, two days to coursework, one day for personal activities and volunteering, and weekends with family. She encourages students to apply for internships even if they don't feel fully qualified. She suggests using your cover letter to introduce yourself and highlight your unique strengths.