Even though I was placed at a major international organization for my internship, I found the environment at the World Bank to be friendly and welcoming. My managers helped me to become immediately integrated into the team as I worked on important projects pertaining to the financial, environmental and social components of sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean. I have utilized research and analytical skills developed at my university on a daily basis and established valuable professional and personal contacts throughout the semester.

The best part about interning through The Washington Center was the placement process. I had several phone interviews with interesting organizations and had the opportunity to choose the one that suited my needs and goals. I was also able to participate in a variety of activities, including visits to The White House and the Organization of American States. I met members of Congress and many important leaders from the private and public sector.

I believe that my experiences in Washington, D.C. have helped me to better appreciate the way that the real world functions. When I visualize myself prior to this semester, I appear in my mind's eye as the "before" photo in a series; now I've taken the first steps toward creating a successful "after."

I view my work at Merrill Lynch, a leading financial management and advisory company, as a fundamental building block of my future career. During my internship I applied theory learned in the classroom to real world circumstances. I was trained to use software such as Zephyr Style Advisor, Bloomberg and Financeware as I assisted with the creation of portfolios for existing and prospective clients, conducted research and updated earnings estimates. I even helped my team create a core presentation that will be used to explain asset allocation to clients for years to come.

Throughout the semester I gained insight into my strengths and weaknesses and grew to appreciate which type of professional environment will best complement my personality. My colleagues at Merrill Lynch and program manager at The Washington Center have been invaluable mentors; they were a major source of guidance, confidence and motivation during the course of my internship.

This experience provided various networking opportunities; I recommend that interns create a business card and carry it with them at all times in order to exchange their contact information with new acquaintances. My interest in energy economics led me to attend the World Bank Energy Conference 2005 and I was able to meet the Honorable Ministers of Energy from Ghana and Kenya!