Where are they now?: Kendall Jacobsen -- 2012 Session Assistant

1. When did you participate in the Undergraduate Session Assistants Program or Senate Fellowship?

 I participated in the 2012 Legislative Session, from January to June.

 2. Which Senate office were you placed in during your internship?

 Senator Joseph A. Griffo’s office.

3. Briefly describe your responsibilities/day-to-day activities in your internship office placement.

I sat at the front desk, answered phone calls, filed memos, prepared the senator’s active list and committee summaries for the day, and accompanied him to meetings and to Session every day

4. Where are you working now? Briefly describe your responsibilities/day-to-day activities in your current place of employment.

I work as a Legislative Aide in Senator Malcolm A. Smith’s office. I’m currently handling most of our office’s efforts to provide relief to victims of Hurricane Sandy. I also take meetings with constituents and interest groups, write policy briefs for the Senator to prepare him for meetings and session, write sponsor memos for bills, answer the phone, and occasionally accompany the Senator to committee meetings and to Session.

5. What did you learn from participating in the New York State Senate internship programs that you have been able to carry over to your new position?

The New York State Senate Internship program is one of the best possible ways to familiarize yourself with the inner workings of government on a day-to-day basis. I learned more about government and about professionalism in this internship than any semester of college classes ever taught me. I developed a strong work ethic, a much deeper knowledge of state politics and public administration, and a whole set of skills that will be useful to me for the rest of my life, including logical and lateral thinking, interpersonal skills, policy writing, and public speaking skills. These will be valuable to me no matter what position I hold in the future.