My name is Payton and I applied to be a WCSAG intern because I have always been interested in politics, leadership, and what opportunities come out of working in high leadership and communication settings. I grew up in a political family, where conversations about federal politics, taxes, elections, and how bills will impact our future generations were very common. From an early age, I saw how government decisions can directly impact everyday people. That environment gave me a strong interest in public service and inspired me to become involved myself. The opportunity to join a program focused on policy, advocacy, and communications felt like the perfect place for me to grow while also helping others. I did not want an internship where I watched from the sidelines, but rather where I could learn, contribute, and be challenged to think bigger and deeper.
What excites me most about this program is the chance to gain real-world experience and see how change actually happens. Many people talk about problems and what they want to see changed in our government, but programs like WCSAG teach students how to become part of the solution even if they are not an intern. I loved getting to meet driven people, to have heard different perspectives, and learn from leaders who are already making an impact. I also developed skills that will help me both now and in the future, especially in leadership, teamwork, and communication.
To me, policy means creating the framework that shapes how people live, work, and thrive. It is about making thoughtful decisions that can improve communities and open doors for others. But policy should never lose sight of the people it affects. Students should never be casualties of political strategy. Education, opportunity, and the futures of today’s youth are too valuable to be used as bargaining chips in partisan conflict. Good policy protects students, invests in them, and gives them the tools they need to succeed.
Advocacy means using your voice to stand up for people, ideas, and causes that matter. It means not being afraid to speak when something needs to change. Communications means connecting people through ideas, stories, and clear messages. It is one of the most powerful tools for leadership because without communication, even the best ideas can go unheard. Without communications the meetings I had with legislators this session would not be impactful but because of the diverse stories of Charter families every legislator got to end the meeting feeling impacted.
What I hope to do in the future that incorporates the skills I learned is to create a meaningful impact by becoming a stronger leader who knows how to solve problems, bring people together, and inspire action. Whether that is in government, business, education, or community leadership, I want to be someone who helps move people forward. This internship is more than just an opportunity, it’s helped me take a step towards my future.