Henderson Roman
Bonding With Coworkers
Henderson Roman
Spring 2016
Boston University’s DC.Internship Program can be overwhelming at times. Although it is a very enriching and insightful program, interning full time and taking three night classes as well as a Friday morning class can be very tiring. Fortunately, I get along very well with my fellow interns and have taken advantage of how social and open-minded they are. If you are anything like me, then chances are, you value your social life more than you should. Coworkers provide an outlet from which you can escape the small program of roughly 25 students from Boston University.
As an intern with the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, I have been blessed with a wonderful set of diverse coworkers. I work with American, Mexican, Japanese, Colombian, Korean, Peruvian, and Brazilian interns. As such, I am making worldly connections and networking and look forward to visiting my coworkers all over the world. One of my favorite parts of the BUDC program has been the ability to get to know and network with people who share similar career goals.
Celebrating our coworkers’ 21st and 23rd birthday.
BUDC is the perfect opportunity to spend time with driven people from more diverse walks of life. Although BU has a relatively diverse international student population, it is important to note that they are within the same age group and tend to belong to the upper class. My coworkers are various ages ranging from undergraduate sophomore to graduate students. It is important to spend time with these people and juxtapose your perspective with theirs in a unique way to enhance your BUDC experience.
A day at the national zoo with my coworkers.
My advice is to take advantage of your coworkers. Bond with them. Explore the city with them. As much as I love the other students in the BUDC program, as an extrovert, I do not like being confined to a social circle. I have gone to the Holocaust Museum, explored the Woodley Park Zoo, gone out for meals, and really treasured my time with my coworkers.
Our coworker’s going away party.
Although I am aware that not everyone is lucky enough to have an internship with such open and wonderful coworkers, I suggest taking advantage of them if they happen to be just that. Without a doubt, my BUDC experience would not be complete without my coworkers. If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed with the BUDC program, embrace your coworkers—it’s important to remember to relax and that your interns offer an escape from classes and are an alternative to the students you will meet while in the BUDC program.
Henderson is triple majoring in political science, economics, and international relations. He is a research assistant at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, a non-profit in the district.
