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Kelsey Trundle '13 |
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David Bailey: "The internship serves as a gateway to the world after college." |
2/13/13
“I like to think that R-MC chose me,” says Randolph-Macon College student
Kelsey Trundle ’13. “My mom and I were
touring the campus when a car pulled up and the passenger—dressed in R-MC clothing—yelled out the window, ‘Come to R-MC!’ It was like a breath of fresh air to see that kind of enthusiasm.” The Annapolis, Maryland native, who is majoring in
political science and minoring in
religious studies, is just as enthusiastic about her 2013 January Term (
J-term)
internship.
Trundle interned at David Bailey Associates, a public relations, government affairs, and lobbying firm in Richmond, Virginia. Under the guidance of founder David Bailey, Trundle tracked House and Senate bills presented in the 2013 session; delivered vital bills and resolutions to Delegates and Senators throughout the Virginia Capitol; and attended caucus meetings.
The internship was coordinated through Trundle’s advisor, Political Science Professor Richard Meagher, and Cathy Rollman, the director of professional development in R-MC’s
Center for Personal and Career Development.
“It sounded like a wonderful opportunity,” says Trundle. “Aside from being a great networking tool, internships allow students to narrow down what careers they want to pursue. For the longest time I thought that I wanted to be a lawyer, but now I am really interesting in lobbying.”
Bailey says that serving an internship in and around state government provides a unique opportunity.
“Students experience firsthand the significant differences in state and federal government,” says Bailey, who has worked with numerous R-MC interns. “The internship serves as a gateway to the world after college. It’s not casual volunteering; it’s stepping up and demonstrating dependable work ethics.”
This is Trundle’s second experience as an intern. In 2012 she interned with Congressman Frank Wolf. She ran errands throughout Capitol Hill and the greater D.C. area; attended meetings for legislative correspondents; and worked closely with the scheduler and chief-of-staff.
“Congressman Wolf’s Chief of Staff is
Daniel Scandling ’86, and the two of us often talked about R-MC,” she says. “It was great to be able to connect with a fellow Yellow Jacket!”
As for her post-R-MC plans, Trundle is considering a couple of options.
“I will be applying to law school in the fall,” she says. “I will also apply for a position as a legislative assistant to a state-level Delegate or Senator.” Whatever the future brings, Trundle feels ready.
“R-MC taught me that you have to follow your passion and strive for the best,” she says. “If you want to succeed, only you can make it happen.”
Internships Internships are just one of the opportunities offered by
The Randolph-Macon EDGE. Within the
Center for Personal and Career Development,
The EDGE is a four-year program designed to help students identify their career passions, compete for meaningful employment and apply to graduate schools.
For 30 years, R-MC’s
Bassett Internship Program has been successfully placing students in internships both in the U.S. and around the globe. Coordinated with the Center for Personal and Career Development, the Bassett Internship Program works closely with students to help identify their interests and match them with an appropriate internship opportunity. Randolph-Macon’s
alumni provide a strong network of support for students throughout their time at the college or in assisting them after graduation with career direction and opportunities.
Students may choose to pursue academic, paid, or volunteer internships in a wide variety of settings; recent internships have seen R-MC students gaining valuable knowledge and experience in fields including health care, finance, non-profit, communications and media, education, politics and law, and the arts.