By Christina Cacioppo, Justice and Legal Thought
I’ve had several internships in the past; however, I think this has been the best learning experience out of all of them. I have not only learned what the Federal Trade Commission does, but I’ve learned about several of its missions that relate to current events. This has given me the opportunity to expand my knowledge of current events while also gaining valuable real-life experience and learning about professionalism.
I interned at the Federal Trade Commission’s Office of International Affairs located in Washington DC. The overall goal of the Federal Trade Commission is to act upon the Federal Trade Commission Act, which prohibits “unfair or deceptive acts or practices in commerce.” The Office of International Affairs attempts to do so by coordinating with other international organizations, making agreements and offering technical assistance programs to countries working towards developing their economies. I’ve had several internships in the past; however, I think this has been the best learning experience out of all of them. I have not only learned what the Federal Trade Commission does, but I’ve learned about several of its missions that relate to current events. This has given me the opportunity to expand my knowledge of current events while also gaining valuable real-life experience and learning about professionalism. This experience also introduced me to new working conditions I had never experienced before-teleworking. Due to the recent pandemic, I was switched to telework which has expanded my communication skills and strengthened my self-ambition. I had the privilege of working on PowerPoints for the UN, researching for webinars and ABA meetings. All of these opportunities gave me the privilege of supplementing the knowledge I learned in the university, while also introducing me to entirely new information. I was able to utilize my Spanish skills, while doing research for Spanish speaking countries as well as use my background as a international relations major to further understand the task at hand.
I hear a lot about international relations and stuff, but as an engineering major it's never really been something that I think much about, nor has it been something that I even know much about about, so here I am to learn more. I find it very useful and interesting that the FTC also ensures consumer protection. I have also learned more about what the FTC does and it's benefits. A question I have for you is how do you think international relations will be impacted as a result of COVID-19? And good luck in law school!!