This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the DC Flyers Program, which is a University of Dayton initiative that connects students with internships in Washington, D.C. I spent 10 weeks interning at Counterpart International, a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that provides lifesaving humanitarian relief to communities around the world and works to empower them to build a more resilient future.
At Counterpart, I had the privilege of working with and learning from such amazing, mission-driven people who have devoted their lives to improving the lives of others. My interactions with Counterpart’s CEO and UD alum, Ann Hudock ’90, were especially influential. Ann’s leadership, wisdom, kindness and unwavering belief in fighting for a more just world inspired me and gave me hope for my future.
Before my experience in D.C., I often felt overwhelmed and uncertain about pursuing a career in environmental protection. My doubts were deepened when someone close to me suggested that I pursue something more tangible, where the impact of my work could be easier to see. Promoting climate resilience and working to address climate change started to feel like an overly ambitious, even naive goal.
This summer was especially difficult for the climate community, with the EPA losing funding, national priorities shifting, and experiencing countless rollbacks to environmental regulations. In the face of all of these challenges, I was able to find glimmers of hope.
Seeing firsthand how Counterpart continued to fight for communities despite the unprecedented changes to the sector of international development greatly inspired me. It showed me that there is always a path forward. Despair can be crippling, but hope for a better, more just and sustainable future is the foundation of real change.
Not only did my time at Counterpart help me come to this realization, but so did the opportunity to talk to so many incredible environmental professionals in the D.C. area. Some of these amazing opportunities included meeting with members of the State Department’s Office of Environmental Affairs and a former EPA official. I was also able to join Citizens’ Climate Lobby for a committee hearing and testify on the importance of maintaining climate funding.
Additionally, I learned a lot about international climate policy and climate change from attending a panel on environmental justice at Howard University and a seminar at the Environmental Law Institute.
These experiences opened my eyes to the many ways one can contribute meaningfully to protecting our beautiful planet. Witnessing such persistence and action towards sustainability this summer has made me more excited to continue my journey in environmental advocacy and protection.
While I’m not sure exactly where my career will take me, I have hope and a renewed confidence that this work is exactly what I am called to do. Our Earth deserves people who are willing to fight for it and I hope that more people will continue to realize that they could have an impact, too.