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My Summer Advocating for Youth
"This experience has opened my eyes."
By Ganesh Krishna
Who says you cannot be a business and international law major
and still enjoy an interesting and rewarding internship? Better yet what is
the value of a rewarding internship? When most of my peers had the opportunity
to clerk at law firms or take part in corporate related internships this past
summer; I got the opportunity to participate in an internship that reshaped
my way of thinking.
I interned with Dallas Court-Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA. CASA advocates
for the best interests of abused and neglected children in protective care,
helping children find safe and permanent homes. This experience has opened my
eyes and has encouraged me to combine my philanthropic interests with my legal
interests.
At 21, I actually got to investigate and research cases, where parents' rights
have been terminated, to visit the children, and got to know them and their
individual case. Then I attended hearings to recommend to the judge what was
in the best interest of the child.
Through work with Dallas CASA, I met a family law judge who told me that I reminded
him a lot of himself at his age. The judge greatly influenced me in terms of
making a difference in people's lives. He helped me see that you can change
people's lives and if you work hard you can make a difference.
So my advice, get out in the world and get an internship that opens your eyes.
Find an internship that makes you happy and feel good about what you are doing.
It will make your education a lot more interesting.
Ganesh Krishna is a senior at the Indiana University. He participated in the
Community Summer Jobs Program.
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