Raul Alfonso Rios, senior government and world affairs major, interned this past fall with the Department of State’s United States Mission to the United Nations in New York City.
Rios got this once in a lifetime opportunity to intern with the U.S. Mission to the U.N. through a friend, purely by chance.
Rios applied in January via the Department of State website, and was then informed in May that he was a primary candidate and his spot was confirmed in August. Rios then spent 10 weeks at his internship, from the end of September to mid-November. The application process for his internship was very difficult.
“It was a lot of work and planning I can say that much, there were several forms I had to fill out and I even had to go through a thorough background check,” Rios said.
Rios described the application process as “very competitive.” Many students apply year round and only a very select few are chosen to work for the two or three dozen departments and bureaus under the Department of State.
“My primary choice which I got was the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York City and my second choice was the Foreign Service Institute in Washington D.C.,” Rios said.
Rios has always had an interest in foreign affairs and international law. In high school, he was a part of the model United Nations team. He believed that his internship could be the perfect opportunity for his future career would help him carry out his future academic goals.
As an intern for the U.S. Mission to the U.N., Rios performed a number of tasks. He assisted the research unit with any questions they had for the U.S. mission staff such as dealing with U.N. Resolutions and creating memorandums. Rios attended meetings in the United Nations headquarters as part of the U.S. delegation or merely just meetings that he was interested in attending dealing with specific subjects.
“I also got the chance to attend bilateral meetings with former Ambassadors/Area Advisors as a note take and observer, which were really eye opening and really interesting and had a tremendous impact on my views on how U.S. foreign policy was conducted,” Rios said.
Another positive aspect of the internship was the relationship Rios had with the people he worked with.
“They really treated interns as assets, instead of the more stereotypical approach people have in mind, thanks to this experience I know what I would like to do with my life and my career,” he said.
While working with the internship, Rios took two independent study courses during the course of his internship, under Dr. Liv Coleman an Assistant Professor for Government and World Affairs, and Dr. Bruce K. Friesen an Associate Professor for Sociology. It was these classes that rounded out Rios’ overall experience.
“I am extremely grateful for the support they showed me throughout my experience,” Rios said.
Rios was also able to enjoy his first time in New York City when he wasn’t working.
“I would spend every other week in Central Park relaxing with friends, or just walking around,” he said.
Rios met a lot of political figures and diplomatic officers through his internship. For example, he met with the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr. Susan Rice. Rios also got the chance to attend some side events at the United Nations on human rights and a couple of U.S. Receptions.
When asked if he has any tips for students looking or wanted to get internships in the future, he said, “If you are interested in applying for an internship than don’t hesitate, you have nothing to lose.”
After graduating, Rios plans on going to Law School for International Law. He hopes to get his law degree and Masters degree at the same time in a dual program and then move on to his Doctor of Science of Law.
Rios is also considering joining the Foreign Service for a few years to gain more work experience.
“I met a lot of long time career Foreign Service Officers during my internship, which had a significant impact on my views and perspectives on serving as a Foreign Service Officer,” he said.
Rios also encourages UT students to apply for the U.N. internship.
“I think more students here at UT should apply for this internship if they want to serve their country, grow as individuals and if they would like to experience something new, interesting and exciting,” he said.
While the experience was definitely a learning experience, Rios did not get any credits towards his major for the internship.
“It is something that the school should seriously reconsider or look into if they are to promote their students taking the initiative on their own worthwhile internships in the future,” Rios said.
For more information about his internship, you can contact him at raul.rios@spartans.ut.edu.
Yasaman Sherbaf can be reached at ysherbaf@spartans.ut.edu.