Grady Intern Diaries: Carter Chapman

Grady Intern Diaries: Carter Chapman

July 24, 2019

This is part of a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their summer internship experience.

Grady College: Briefly describe your internship and responsibilities.
CC: In my internship, I assist the committee staff as well as the office of the senator’s office wherever help is needed. This includes work in all areas of a D.C. office, including press, legislation and constituent services. On any given day I am responsible for gathering press clips for my committee, assisting staff with their legislative work and keeping track of constituent calls.

Grady College: What was your favorite part about your summer internship?
CC: Every day I wake up and go to work in the United States Senate, and that never gets old. Getting to be in the middle of what is happening in this country politically and see all the historic places in my office is incredible, and reminds me why I originally decided I wanted to work in politics.

Grady College: What is the most valuable lesson or skill you learned during your internship?
CC: I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with the press team on the committee, showing me the inner working of communications and press relations on the hill. I’ve learned the daily responsibilities of a comms person and seen how my current skill set fits that.

Grady College: What part of your Grady education did you find most valuable during your internship?
CC: The knowledge of AP style Grady as given me was very helpful in my work his summer. Many communication related assignments I had needed to be in AP style. No matter my feelings on having to keep up with it, it was necessary to doing a good job.

Grady College: How did your internship help confirm your desired career path or make you re-evaluate what you want to do in the future?
CC: This internship has confirmed to me my love for communications and its intersection with politics. However, it has also caused me to consider a wider variety of careers, as well as the possibility of working in DC someday. Before I was convinced I wanted to do PR in Atlanta, but now I am open to more jobs such as agency work and advocacy work.

Grady College: How will your summer internship affect the way you approach the rest of your time at UGA?
CC: Something I’ve taken away from this summer is a more proactive approach to my learning, both in my communications work and my general knowledge. I’ve learned so much from reading the many sources of news and commentary available to me as well as the different lectures and thought leaders with whom I have interacted.

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