Meet Penn Hill Group’s Spring interns, Mimi Xhaferi and Lucia Gotera. Mimi is a Junior at Baylor University majoring in Political Science and Medical Humanities. Lucia is a Junior at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Political Science with a minor in Legal Studies and History. Learn a little bit about each of them below!

Mimi Xhaferi

Why did you decide to spend a semester/summer in DC?

Washington, DC is a fascinating city that is enriched with so much culture and history. I chose to spend my semester in DC because I wanted the opportunity to learn and grow in a city that champions innovation, perseverance and ambition. More importantly, I wanted to learn in a city that pioneers advocacy. I have always had a strong interest in helping and advocating for those in need and I wanted to intern in DC so that I can learn the different ways to advocate for others – whether it be by practicing law, lobbying, consulting or serving other roles.

What do you hope to do or learn during this internship?

From this internship, I hope to learn more about policy development. I want to expand my policy knowledge and understand how policy agendas evolve into bills or regulations. As a political science major, I’ve learned a lot about public policy, but I did not understand how certain policies can impact different sectors of work, such as education and workforce, until I started interning at Penn Hill Group. This internship has given me a better understanding of how our government runs and how important strategizing and training are to successfully implementing different policies.

What interests you most about education?

Education policy is so important because it shapes the way students learn and sets the stage for how they develop socially, academically and professionally. The aspect of education that interests me most is its versatility because education policy can span across different sectors – from K-12 and special education to higher education. Learning about education policy through this internship has been such an eye-opening experience because it taught me that education is not linear and there so many different ways for people to learn, whether it be through attending public or charter schools or pursing an apprenticeship or a higher education degree. No matter what sector of education you’re advocating for, education policy is so special to me because they all fight for the same goal: to provide students with accessibility and the resources to learn and grow.

What are some of your future goals?

In the future, I hope to go to law school and become an attorney so that I can protect people’s rights and advocate for those in need. As I continue to plan for my future, I am grateful for the skills I’ve learned from this internship, and I look forward to applying everything I learned to all my future endeavors.

Lucia Gotera

Why did you decide to spend a semester/summer in D.C.?

Even before getting to Penn, I knew I would spend a semester in DC to experience for myself the world of policymaking. I grew up driving down to DC from Delaware with my family, and fell in love with the rich culture, history and sense of importance of the city. This seemed like the perfect place to gain the skills I would need to reach my career goals and meet people that were working in areas that interest me.

What do you hope to do or learn during this internship?

I hope to deepen my understanding of the legislative process and the role that lobbyists play in promoting their clients’ interests. I also look forward to perfecting my writing skills, seeing that an academic writing style is drastically different than that used in the workplace. With my research experience, I look forward to getting into the weeds of legislation and learning more about emerging issue areas.

What interests you most about education?

I am very interested in programs, organizations and practices directed towards students who fall through the cracks, so to speak, of education. As a daughter of a paraprofessional who works with students with special needs in a dual-language elementary school in downtown Wilmington, I have heard of the obstacles that many students must overcome to truly access the benefits of education. These can range from mental health challenges, learning disabilities and outside of school conflicts that can set students off track, if the proper supports are not in place.

What are some of your future goals?

Looking ahead, my biggest goals are to graduate from law school and eventually come back to D.C. In the short term, I hope to finish reading Márquez’s Cien años de soledad, and make sure to keep in touch with all of the amazing people I have met while in D.C. this semester.