Internships in Our Nation's Capital

In Fall of 2004, Ku'ulani Miyashiro, Jennifer Funtanilla and Lily Leung were the three UH Arts & Sciences students who interned in Washington, DC. Here are excerpts from their writings about the experience. Published with the permission of Ke Kumu 'Ike, the Newsletter of the Colleges of Arts & Sciences, University of Hawai'i at Mânoa, Spring 2005, Volume Nine - Number One. Read the complete Spring 2005 issue of Ke Kumu 'Ike at this link.

Lily Wai Leung

My internship placement was at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the recreational therapy department. I did not sit at a desk and answer the phone or file papers; I had the freedom to design and execute projects without limitation to patient interaction. Working with veterans was especially meaningful to me because it gave me insight to understanding our current war on terrorism in Iraq. It taught me that even if you do not support the war, you should support the troops fighting in the war. My internship was a learning experience that changed my perspectives on many aspects of my life. The program also involved a variety of guest lecturers including congressmen, various committee chairmen under the President's administration, public policy makers, and many more. I especially enjoyed a visit to the Peace Corps and learning about the organizations recruitment process. Lectures exposed me to different points of views that I had never considered. For example, a panel of speakers from the public and private sector spoke about corporate citizenship and changed some of my prejudices about American corporations. Prior to this lecture, I had read many anti-corporation books, such as Fast Food Nation, which made me think that all activities of corporations were unethical.This lecture, however, showed me that corporations are actually contributing a lot of resources to the community. Attending the presidential lectures made me realize that it is very important to be informed of all points of view before forming an opinion on an issue. My semester in Washington D.C. was an experience that pushed me out of all my comfort zones and made me re-examine myself, my goals, and my values. It was one of the scariest, yet most liberating things that I have ever done.

Jennifer Funtanilla

I was assigned to intern at the prestigious Smithsonian National Museum of American History and its Asian Pacific American Initiatives Committee where my responsibility was to come up with possible Filipino-American public programs that could one day be implemented at the museum. While the internship was a good learning experience and took up the majority of my time, I would have never imagined that my life experiences outside of it would have the most profound effect on my life. Washington, D.C. is the epitome of power. Not only was I surrounded by national treasures such as the White House, the Capitol, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the Pentagon, but I was also walking alongside and bumping elbows with lawyers, politicians, military officials, entrepreneurs, and future presidents of the United States. Being born and raised in Hawaii and also a product of Kalihi, there were many times when I felt intimidated, but I knew that I would have to overcome that. The city affected the way I spoke, the way I dressed, and most importantly, the way I carried myself. In a power-driven city, I had to learn very quickly to carry myself with confidence (not arrogance) and to truly believe that I had something valuable to offer. It was a lesson that I could apply to all aspects of my life. Washington, D.C. was also an awesome place to meet new people and of course to have fun. After a long and hard day at work, you could always find comfort or at least some stress relief in the nightlife of the city. What a thrill it was for me to attend an autograph session with the famous writer and poet, Maya Angelou. All of these experiences and lessons learned would not have been possible if I hadn't seized the opportunity to apply for the UH-sponsored scholarship that would pay for all of my expenses to be an intern. An undergraduate college experience is not only defined by your experiences in the classroom, but also by your willingness to seek out the many opportunities the university has to offer.

Ku'ulani Miyashiro

Under the supervision of curator and professor Dr. Franklin Odo, I worked in the Asian Pacific American Program at the Smithsonian Institution researching material on the Japanese American internment and overall experience during World War II. I was able to learn and contribute to Asian Pacific American studies in my internship, as well as forge invaluable cultural and personal exchanges with the people and sites around me. Prior to this academic experience, I had only been away from Hawai'i once so there was definitely a feeling of uncertainty traveling away from home and staying in D.C. for three and a halfmonths. I was afraid of living with others whom I'd never met, unsure how my family would respond to my leaving, and uncertain if I would enjoy the whole experience and learn the most from it I possibly could. As time went by, feelings of awe and appreciation overwhelmed me as we visited historic sites like Mount Vernon, Williamsburg, and other monuments and memorials. On any given night walking on the National Mall to the metro station from the Smithsonian, I'd turn to see a glimpse of the nation's Capitol illuminated by the moon against the dark night. Ahead I'd see the Washington Monument surrounded by tall trees with bare branches, signs of east coast winter. I'd be talking to a Hawai'i friend on my cell phone and mention, "Guess what? I'm talking to you from the National Mall and staring back at the Capitol." Friends and family would perk up with even more interest and curiosity. As for me, it had become a daily breathtaking routine. This internship not only afforded me a chance to live in one of the most historical, well-known, and powerful cities of our nation, but also the opportunity to travel - twice to New York City, seeing the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade; to New Jersey with my D.C. roommate, to the neighboring state of Maryland, and all parts in between. This experience was not simply something money could buy, but rather a generous and rare opportunity I was luckily afforded. I am so grateful for this internship because not only did it hush my fears, it also expanded my boundaries and made me eager to return.

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