Major: International Political Economy
Internship Placement: George W. Bush Institute
When Pamela Arguelles accepted an internship with the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas, her goals were to learn how think tanks influence public policy and gain insights into her career plans. By the end of her stint, she had accomplished those goals and more.
An international political economy major, Arguelles worked in the institute’s Central America Prosperity Project (CAPP). At first, she was in charge of event planning. She later took on translating documents and emails, preparing the director for conferences on CAPP, interviewing CAPP participants, and even writing op-ed columns for Central American media.
“I was never short on work, so I made sure I wrote down everything then prioritized and worked my way down,” she said.
The experience taught her that hard work and diligence pay off, she said, especially when paired with confidence in your abilities.
“My internship helped me determine my long-term career goals,” Arguelles said. “I now know I want to be a part of macro issues that deal with improving the economies of our Latin American neighbors.”
