Week 10 - Last Hurrah


As I wrap up my last week at USIP, I cannot help but reflect on my time at the Institute. I came into this internship with an open mind and an eagerness to learn. I wanted to expand my knowledge and hone in on my research skills. Over the past 10 weeks I was able to do exactly that and more. I learned about the daily struggles of citizens in various Latin American countries and the violence they are exposed to on a regular basis. I learned about the unfortunate cycle of peace and gang violence that has plagued countries such as El Salvador and Guatemala. My research opened my eyes to the lack of creativity regarding solutions to these issues, and the continuous reliance on extreme measures in order to attempt to control these gangs. Nonetheless, my research has also provided me with a sense of hope as I have read about potential solutions to break the repetitive cycle of extreme security measures and extreme gang violence. Furthermore, the very fact that I have been tasked to look into these issues and potential solutions excites me as it demonstrates USIP’s desire to help implement change and contribute to the decimation of this harmful cycle.

My research has not been the only aspect of my internship that has aided in my growth. My wonderful team has been nothing but supportive in providing me with resources to help expand my knowledge. They have always been willing to sit down with me and discuss any questions that I might have. Furthermore, they pushed me to meet with as many people as I could in order to really get the most out of my summer at USIP. My conversations with various individuals from USIP left me feeling encouraged to think outside of the box and filled with new wisdom and advice. I left every meeting feeling motivated and excited about the opportunities to come. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a summer intern at USIP and am sad that my time with the team has come to an end!