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This summer I was given the unique opportunity to delve into the world of diplomacy and foreign service. This internship was made possible by the generous donors from the Undergraduate Experiential Learning Opportunities Support Fund. This support enabled me to pursue an internship with the U.S Department of Commerce with complete focus.聽

As I approach the latter semesters of my undergraduate degree, my interests have concentrated in the areas of international relations and foreign service. Certain experiences have been instrumental in shaping these interests, including, but not limited to: a multifaceted 91社区 curriculum researching comparative politics, studying in the exchange program at Sciences Po Paris and experiencing its close working relationship with the European Union, and sharpening hard skills through summer internships. Ultimately, this diversity of experience has made it clear that I seek to work in the field of international relations, and I saw this internship as an opportunity to get my foot in the door.

Following a successful application and security clearance process, I was given the green light to work as an Intern with the U.S Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) at the U.S Consulate General Montreal. The Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) sector is the trade promotion arm of the U.S Department of Commerce鈥檚 International Trade Administration. The FCS functions as a global network connecting American exporters with foreign business opportunities. Within the framework of the Consulate General Montreal, we helped to promote American exports across Eastern Canada, and operate as Quebec trade specialists.

As per the expansive nature of the Foreign Commercial Service鈥檚 mission, my role was also expansive. Each workday presented a new set of challenges across different industries with different objectives. Over the course of the internship, I had helped my colleagues in various different sectors, however my key areas were in environmental technologies and medical technologies. My role can most aptly be defined as a partial consultant, aiding American small to mid-sized companies make entrance into the Canadian markets, and analyst, drafting policy and industry reports to inform our business strategy.

I am very thankful for the encountered challenges and obstacles throughout the internship. These provide ample space for growth and encouraged me to tap into my amassed skills over my previous internship and academic cycles. The biggest challenge I encountered was navigating the formalities and protocol required for high-level state visits. During my internship I helped to organize foreign direct investment missions for the Governor of New Jersey and the Lieutenant Governor of Kansas. In addition to conducting significant market research, reaching out to clients, and ensuring a productive visit for state governors, much of the required paperwork and communication requires specific protocol. These include briefings and security documents (i.e. Action Request Checklists and Scenarios) with highly unconventional formatting. Arriving to the position having previously worked as a Data Analyst at a bank, the ecosystem by which work is submitted in the field of foreign service is much more formalized. This is something I鈥檓 very thankful I got the opportunity to encounter and adapt to.

Other projects and tasks that I had the pleasure of working on include: writing an Environmental Technology Country Commercial guide that will be posted on the trade.gov website, designing a value-added program for U.S. companies interested in attending Americana and MedTech trade shows, consulting U.S. companies and providing feedback on prospective companies looking to enter the Canadian market, and conducting a policy analysis on Bill 96 including its legislative and regulatory background, industry compliance, and impact on trademarks for packaging and labelling.

This internship allowed me to work alongside and learn from many talented colleagues, and also allowed me to make invaluable connections as I move forward into my career. I鈥檓 incredibly thankful I was afforded the opportunity to work for the U.S Foreign Commercial Service and would once again like to thank the generous donors who made it happen.聽