Indiana University of Pennsylvania student Jesse Daugherty visited the Pennsylvania Capitol as part of his summer internship with APSCUF’s government-and-communication department. Click here to learn more about APSCUF internships. APSCUF file photo
Honestly, coming into this internship, I had no idea what to expect. I don’t come from a union background, nor do I come from a higher-education background (I’m a first-generation college student.). That almost deterred me from even applying, but I’ve learned that is what internships are for: to learn and explore interests. That is exactly what APSCUF has offered me.
I’ve been interested in government for as long as I can remember, and my program at IUP has deepened my interest in our governance. From talking with representatives to interviewing faculty and coach members, APSCUF provided me with such an insightful experience that I think may lead me to continue work in the government or with another union.
The public-relations or PR aspect of this internship really showed me another side of union work, and even working with the government. If I begin working in municipal management, I will need to know how to create press releases, how to answer questions, and how to talk to people. Coming from a government background, those were skills I just didn’t possess when I began this internship. Kathryn Morton, APSCUF’s communications director, not only has these skills, but also the patience of a saint when teaching them. I felt in over my head when I first started writing for the union, but Kathryn not only encouraged me to continue writing, but provided valuable feedback to help me improve. While this internship only lasted 10 weeks, these skills I will carry with me for a lifetime.
Sean Crampsie, APSCUF’s director of government relations, has provided me with so many experiences of meeting new people, especially legislators. Just this week I met with Rep. Jacob Banta, and Rep. Jim Struzzi, who represent districts that include State System institutions. These sessions allowed me to see faculty concerns and how legislators respond to them. If you have any interest in government, these experiences are going to be especially helpful as you progress in your career. You can see just how hard government relations are to manage, and Sean has really opened my eyes to how you can thrive in a fast-paced environment. I attended fundraisers and was able to experience firsthand how powerful a good lobbyist can be for an organization. I’m not sure if lobbying is in my future, but I learned so much about how important it is to keep up with the ever-changing nature of the state legislature, a quality that I feel will help me in my career later.
I almost didn’t attend the interview for this internship, feeling my résumé was lackluster and my background wouldn’t fit what APSCUF was going for, but boy was I wrong. APSCUF has a special thing going on here, fighting not only for faculty, but for us as students. They showed me how powerful the impact our State System has on students, and how important it is for us to do everything we can for our campuses. I see why student support was so strong during the strike back in 2016. If I can even come close to working with an organization as passionate as APSCUF, I would be thrilled. If you have any doubts about applying, go for it! This experience will be short but leave a lasting impact. I no doubt will take more than a handful of new skills with me as I begin my career.
—Jesse Daugherty,
APSCUF intern