featured INTERNview

Kristin Lybbert

"Here is a picture from my last day at Heritage when I
participated in a live panel discussion streamed on the to
young adults throughout the  country.  Far left was my
immediate supervisor, Douglas Ernst and in the center was
my coworker/fellow intern from the College of the
Holy Cross, Samantha Rocci."

Tell us a little about yourself.
I am from Kennewick, Washington. I am a 5th year senior in the American Studies program at BYU and I will be graduating in a month!


Future career plans. Go on; dream big.
To be honest, I don't know what I want to do. Sometimes the unlimited options are exhilarating and other times they are paralyzing. However, I know that my studies have led me to develop strong critical thinking and writing skills that can be applied to any position. Who knows where I'll end up working? Maybe for the FBI, in Hollywood, or in some foreign land!


Where did you intern?
I interned for a semester at The Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. through BYU's Washington Seminar program.


How did you learn about this internship?
I first learned about the Heritage Foundation through family and then learned more about their internship program through the Washington Seminar internship database.


What did you love about living in D.C.?
What's not to love about Washington D.C.? Cherry blossoms, politics, friends, food, and shopping. The Barlow Center is perfectly located at Foggy Bottom in between Georgetown and the White House - BYU sure knows how to pick property!


What were two valuable skills you learned/developed during your internship?
Technical writing - I was composing memos, responding to emails, and writing proposals. All of these tasks were relatively new to me, but because of my studies at BYU I was able to adapt and learn quickly. Working as a team - Teamwork is not like the group work you are forced to do in some college classes. It was refreshing to see that working as part of a team was actually enjoyable rather than miserable. I was used to being stuck with all the work, but at Heritage everyone was focused on getting the job done and therefore willing to contribute their best effort.


I always _floss my teeth_ before I go to bed.


Favorite diet soda.
Diet Dr. Pepper


Advice to students looking for internships.
Apply for it even if you don't think you have a chance. I've noticed that BYU students tend to underestimate their abilities, especially in relation to the powerhouse schools. I didn't think the Heritage Foundation would ever pick me, but I ended up fitting in with the rest of the interns from the big schools around the country.


Between _cake_ & _ice cream_ I would definitely choose _ice cream_.


American Studies _is the perfect major for me_.