Adrina Serrano Matsumoto interned at the Office of Senator Durbin.
As I reflect on my last semester in the Illinois in Washington Program (IIW), I find myself overwhelmed with a whirlwind of emotions. From the initial nerves of stepping into a new city to the deep connections forged and the invaluable experiences gained, my time in DC has been nothing short of transformative. Before embarking on this journey, I was apprehensive, to say the least. As someone who thrives on familiarity, the thought of moving to a new city and interning in a completely foreign
environment was rather nerve-racking. There were moments when I questioned whether I was making the right decision and even contemplated dropping out of the program altogether. However, I am immensely grateful that I pushed past my fears and took the leap, and ironically, I found it incredibly difficult to leave at the end of
the year.
When it came to preparing for IIW, it was definitely challenging to find an internship opportunity at first. Luckily, I made an effort to get a head start on applications and ended up creating an Excel spreadsheet compiling all of the internships I had found and tracking their deadlines and progress for each application. As someone who often forgets things, I found this incredibly helpful, and while I did face many rejections, I was able to secure a position as a legislative intern within Senator Durbin’s office.
In Senator Durbin’s Office, I worked primarily within the health and poverty team, where I actively engaged in various legislative initiatives concerning healthcare inequities and efforts to improve medical access. In this role, I have taken on the responsibility of following and compiling health updates in the state of Illinois, heavily focusing on a variety of issues ranging from the spread of measles within migrant shelters to significant shortages of healthcare workers. My involvement allowed me to conduct
in-depth research on healthcare disparities and even had the privilege of working on a project concerning the regulation of tobacco retailers, which ended up being featured in The New York Times. While I had very little knowledge of the healthcare system prior to my internship, having the opportunity to integrate myknowledge from classes into real-world issues greatly piqued my interest in the public health field. If you had asked me prior to the program, I would have said that I really had no idea what I wanted to pursue. Coming from immigrant parents, I was initially inclined towards fields related to immigration. However, thanks to this internship and my participation in IIW, I found myself attending briefings and hearings on health-related topics. It was through these experiences that I realized the extensive nature of public health and how it encompasses a wide range of issues. As a result, I have decided to pursue a master’s in public health with a focus on addressing disparities within minority populations’ access to care, including issues related to immigration.
As a first-generation college student, I never would have imagined interning on Capitol Hill, let alone actively participating in shaping legislative initiatives and attending briefings alongside policymakers. If it weren’t for the IIW program and the guidance of Dr. Andrea Mayer, I would not be as confident in my professional skills and willing to embrace new opportunities. I am deeply grateful to this city for the opportunities it has afforded me, from witnessing the view of the Capitol building on my daily commute to enjoying the little things like baseball games, group dinners, and late-night hangouts. These moments, made possible by IIW, will forever hold a special place in my heart as I carry forward the lessons learned and memories cherished from my time in DC.
