by Bianca Cirigliano
During my second year at the University of Florida, I began looking into different opportunities and internships that aligned with my interests. I stumbled across the Bob Graham Center for Public Service and the various opportunities they offer. As a Pre-Law student, I knew this was going to be a great fit for me as I was looking into expanding my horizons. I went ahead and applied for their 2024 Tallahassee Internship Program with very low expectations of being accepted given I was just a sophomore with no previous internship experience. However, after interviewing with the Center, I heard back and was offered a spot as an intern. At this point, I was not aware of how eye-opening and life changing this experience would be.
I served as a Spring 2024 intern at the UF Government and Community Relations Office in Tallahassee. In this position, I was responsible for attending committee meetings, legislative sessions on both the House of Representative and the Senate sides, as well as monitoring and attending budget meetings. I drafted weekly reports to inform University of Florida officials on topics that might affect or benefit our campus, as well as our state as a whole. Moreover, I was responsible for the planning and logistics of Gator Day, which is an event that highlights UF's academic excellence, research advancements, and national impact for the Florida Legislature, other statewide audiences, and the general public. Some of my responsibilities included delivering and sending out invitations, as well as contacting elected officials in both the Florida House of Representatives and the Senate, along with other professionals, such as the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of the State University System of Florida. Additionally, I was responsible for coordinating the layout of events, communicating with vendors and tablers, distributing tasks to other interns and volunteering, preparing name badges, as well as working with Florida Blue Key, the Athletic Association, Student Government and more. The entire event fell on the hands of my office, as well as the UF Government and Community Relations Office in Gainesville and the Washington D.C. Office. I worked closely with multiple professionals, such as Christopher Emmanuel, Mark Kaplan, and Karen Thomas.
While working in this position, I realized I wanted to get more involved in the Florida Legislature as I had never considered politics as a career path. At the same time as I was interning for the UF Government and Community Relations Office, I served as a part-time intern for Florida Representative Ryan Chamberlin, who represents District 24 (Marion County). In this position, I was able to experience the Florida Legislature first hand and develop a better understanding of politics. I was responsible for attending committee meetings, monitoring appropriation and budgets while meeting with the Senate sponsors of my Representative’s bills, as well as interacting with constituents via phone or email, and by taking meetings at the office. These tasks and responsibilities allowed me to develop professional and intrapersonal skills required in the field of government relations and politics.
As a first-generation student who is seeking a dual degree in Criminology and Psychology, with a specialization in Behavior Analysis, I never thought the field of politics would have much to offer me. However, serving as a 2024 Tallahassee Legislative Intern not only helped me further develop my professional skills and learn about the Florida Legislature, but it allowed me to open up to new opportunities, make valuable connections, and consider different career paths for my future. My greatest takeaway from this experience is that you miss 100% of the opportunities you don't take. I have learned to be much more open, understanding, flexible, and look at life from an enhanced perspective.
