Four Colin Powell School students are gaining valuable experience this fall as interns in Senator Chuck Schumer’s district office.
Four Colin Powell School students are gaining valuable experience this fall as interns in Senator Chuck Schumer’s district office. Alexa Aviles and Zakia Safsaf serve as reception interns, assisting constituents with questions and concerns about their immigration applications. Mithi Jhaveri works with the director of Asian American outreach on healthcare and insurance-related cases, while MD Abir supports the scheduling team, helping coordinate logistics for the Senator’s engagements.
MD Abir shares “working at Senator Schumer’s office feels like being on a political chessboard, it’s very quick, strategic, and intense. He has a strong expectation of the work and wants you to be engaged and on top of things. The pressure is high, but you learn a lot about legislation and negotiation, and how to keep moving when the path forward is not always clear.”
Zakia Safsaf highlights the complex nature of policymaking, especially when it comes to balancing the requirements and needs of a diverse group of constituents. “One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that policymaking is much more challenging than it may appear from the outside. It’s not simply about supporting or opposing a piece of legislation — there are always competing perspectives, and no decision can satisfy everyone. This has given me a new appreciation for the complexity of public service and the importance of balancing so many voices and priorities.”
When it comes to the application process and ensuring a coveted internship spot in the Senator’s office, students highlight the role of the Office of Student Success in guiding and mentoring their applications. Safsaf shares “from the very beginning, they (Office of Student Success) believed in my potential and the strength of my application, and they guided me through every step of preparing for the interview. Their encouragement and mentorship made all the difference, and I’m thankful to have had such dedicated mentors who want to see Powell Students students shine and succeed”.
Safsaf also shares some words of advice to her fellow Powell School students hoping to secure a similar opportunity in the future: “My advice to fellow students seeking a high-profile internship is to believe in their own potential, put forward the strongest application they can, and approach the interview process with confidence. Preparation and self-belief go a long way, and opportunities like this are within reach for those who are willing to take the leap.”
Jhaveri says “I think what helped me stand out as a candidate in the internship application process was my passion to help people in the community and my curiosity to learn more about how a Senator’s office runs.”
All four students are fellows in various Colin Powell School programs, and this spring, Abir, Jhaveri, and Safsaf will further their professional development through the Semester in DC program.
