David DaCosta '23 was a bit apprehensive about starting his internship.
"It was like a kid going into a shark tank."
Okay, he was very apprehensive about starting his internship. But, he had felt that way before. DaCosta was surrounded, almost entirely, by Black and Hispanic students at his high school in the Bronx. Stepping onto the Siena campus was a culture shock, but the initial discomfort challenged him to try new things.
DaCosta aspires to be a lawyer. He's passionate about civil justice and criminal justice reform. He wants to learn more about how an idea can be crafted into a bill and then navigate the political process to become a law. So, he secured an internship in New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey's office...
...and waded into the shark tank.
So far, no sign of sharks. DaCosta is remote for the semester, but he's been tasked with a variety of responsibilities. He connects with constituents and notifies community members about blood drives and registration opportunities for the COVID-19 vaccine. He's learning more about issues that impact Senator Hinchey's constituents, such as health care benefits and income tax law.
DaCosta wants to effect change, and he's learned that listening is the second step. The first step was taking the leap of faith and jumping into the tank.
“Going into this internship, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The uncertainty made it a bit uncomfortable at first, but I viewed the internship as an opportunity to break away from my introvertedness and get into the mindset of working with people. I am passionate about civil justice reform, and this internship is a perfect way to emphasize a call for justice.”
David DaCosta '23
