Molly was a fourth-year undergraduate student in the Architecture School, studying Urban and Environmental Planning, when she completed her internship.

Why did you choose the Wallerstein Scholars Program?

I chose my internship because I have always been interested in working in the public sector and wanted to get a feeling for what kind of career I could have working in local government offices.

What projects did you work on as a Wallerstein Scholar?

I was interning with the Water and Energy Management Team for the City of Charlottesville and helped them develop materials for the new WE@Work initiative that has been implemented to help curb water and energy waste. 

What was your favorite part of the internship?

I am really grateful for the opportunity I had to work during the pandemic. It gave me a great way to begin to understand the working from home experience, and provided me with opportunities to increase digital communication skills, as well as improve my ability to adapt to new challenges. 

What did you learn as a result of this internship?

Throughout the course of my internship I learned how useful all the skills I have can be in a professional setting. The projects I helped create were not solely the use of my technical skills which I have gained over the past four years, but I was also able to bring in my own general interests and skills to the internship. 

Would you recommend the Wallerstein Scholars Program to future students?

The Wallerstein Scholars Program is a great opportunity for students wanting to gain experience in the public sector. The program, and the corresponding internship, provided me with an insight of what it looks like to work in local government, and has helped me solidify what I want to do after college.