Alexander de Rege
When Government and Politics major Alexander de Rege began his internship with Assemblymember Brian Barnwell (30th Assembly District), he quickly realized that he was taking his first steps toward a career in law and government.
When Government and Politics major Alexander de Rege began his internship with Assemblymember Brian Barnwell (30th Assembly District), he quickly realized that he was taking his first steps toward a career in law and government.
The sophomore served as Constituent Affairs Liaison for the assemblymember. In this role, he directly responded to inquiries that local constituents made to the legislative office. “I would receive the concern from the constituent and then contact the appropriate government agency responsible for solving that problem,” Alexander said. “It may be the Department of Transportation, the Department of Finance, etc. The issues that constituents have can range from wanting a pothole fixed or inquiring about how to get exemptions on their taxes, to needing help contacting the Human Resources Administration. No two days were ever the same.”
Alexander found the internship through the Handshake online program. In partnership with University Career Services, this digital platform provides full-time, part-time, temporary, and internship opportunities targeted by employers to St. John's students and alumni. “I submitted my résumé with the application, and I was asked to come in for an interview. A few weeks later, I was notified that I got the position,” Alexander noted.
The work, he added, has been very rewarding. “I was able to gain an understanding of the intricacies of government and, in doing so, help people in the community. Before this internship, I knew very little about how government agencies functioned. By gaining up-close experience, I was able to learn exactly how they operated.”
During the internship, Alexander worked with not-for-profit legal groups, including the New York Legal Assistance Group, to assist constituents.
“Overall, my internship experience helped me determine that I really want to work in government,” he said. “I enjoyed helping people and making a difference and working in concert with our government to solve problems.”
Upon graduation, Alexander hopes to attend law school and, ultimately, pursue a career in government, so he can continue to serve the public.
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Read about our other interns that gained valuable skills through experiential learning.
Jonna Scopellito
Mark Hanna
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