Notes from the Field: Yaritza Gonzalez '15


Rockefeller Center-funded interns reflect on their experiences as part of our "Notes from the Field" series. Click here to read more about the Rockefeller Center's Internships program. To read the entire series, click here.

Student Intern: Yaritza Gonzalez '15

Internship Organization: White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics – Washington, DC

How would you describe your employer in one paragraph? What’s the elevator pitch?
The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics was established to remove the educational disparities within the Latino community by developing, implementing, and coordinating policies. The WHIEEH also forms partnerships with several organizations and agencies to increase awareness of the programs and resources available to the community.

What are your specific responsibilities in the organization?
My responsibilities at the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics include: writing briefings for events, creating PowerPoints for conferences, taking notes during meetings, volunteering at youth centers, calling commissioners for support, introducing speakers at receptions, updating websites, coordinating webinars, and researching for fact sheets. My current project is focused on creating a website for the Federal Student Aid Office. So far, I have been researching all the information. The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics’ plan is to release a toolkit that will facilitate the transitions from high school to college and college to career for Latino students and their parents.

How did you feel on the first day of your internship?
My supervisor greeted me in Spanish the first day of my internship. I instantly felt comfortable.

What is your favorite part of the internship so far?
The best part of my internship experience has been volunteering at youth centers. It motivates me to continue to work hard in my internship when I hear all the stories from several students pursuing college or thinking of pursuing college.

What challenges have you faced so far?
I do not think I was as prepared to network as I thought I was.

What do you hope to achieve by the end of your internship?
I have been meeting several inspiring Latinas that have changed my view on life, so I hope to form strong relationships with as many as I can by the time I complete my internship.

What have been some practical lessons you've learned in the day-to-day life of your internship?
A practical lesson I have learned in the day-to-day life of my internship has been mastering the metro—learning which hours have the cheapest fares.