Thank You Letter

Olivia Zelaya

Phoenix AZ, 85014

May 1, 2015

Isabel

Intern Coordinator

Board of Executive Clemency,

1645 W. Jefferson, Suite 101            

Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Dear Isabel:

Thank you for the opportunity to intern with this agency. Not only was it a pleasure meeting you, but also working side by side with you and learning something new each day. I had the opportunity to work with several administrators at this agency and each one had new knowledge to share with me. Isabel you are an extraordinary employee that is not afraid to show what you know and develop other employees to do their best, this is commendably essential to this agency. 

Thank you for taking the time and displaying patience as you trained me each day. You gave me the opportunity to understand the process of commutation, parole and revocations as well as the clemency process. As an intern with the Board of Executive Clemency, I was impressed with the amount of law knowledge needed to carry out this job. I had the privilege to witness several board hearings that allowed me to grow not only as a professional criminology major, but also as a person. My view of the criminal justice system with pardons and paroles have changed since taking on this internship. I have more respect for those that work behind the scenes to ensure that everyone in the department of corrections has a fair due process.

The experienced acquired in this agency, I know will help me in the future. I will be able to use earned skills in the criminal justice field. Again, thank you for the opportunity and I am glad I had the opportunity to work together with this amazing team that makes the Board of Executive Clemency what it is today. Thus, ensuring public safety and giving second chances to those inmates that do not pose a threat to society. More than this, your friendship is truly appreciated. Again, thank you.

Sincerely,

Olivia Zelaya

My organization and what I take with me from this internship

In the internship with the Board of Executive Clemency, I had to opportunity to learn foremost the legal process of parole, revocations, commutations and clemency. Prior to entering this internship I had absolutely no knowledge of this agency and how it worked. I have learned to work under conflicting leadership. Yet, the strengths of this organization is the very hardworking employees under her that allowed me and welcomed me to learn by asking and doing as much as I wanted to. I took advantage of every single opportunity to learn process, duties and responsibilities. I would definitely call it a positive learning experience of what to do and what not to do.

Three goals that I aimed to achieve in my internships at the beginning were:

1. Applying what I have learn in a real life setting.

2. Love the profession I have chosen to study and make a lifetime career from it.

3. Expand my knowledge of leadership while serving the public and maintaining their best interest in mind.

I believe I have met these goals because I am taking with me experience from different leaders in this agency. I understand and have better awareness how government agencies administer their agency and employees. I was very lucky that not only did I have the opportunity to see one leader, I had the opportunity to see 5 leaders at their best and worst.

I do plan to make a lifetime career working in federal agencies.

There is always room for improvement yet, my passion for public policy and public service, as well as public administration only got stronger. I do plan to work hard in public service and keep in mind that I am there for a purpose of serving others than myself.

Congressman Ruben Gallego's One Minute Speech on the Importance of a Deb...

Hello everyone! 

In one of the agencies that I intern, there will be an opportunity for us students at ASU downtown to attend. On Monday April 27, 2015 Congressman Ruben Gallego will host a speech on College debt at the POST Office RM 135 at 10:00 am. Hope you get a chance to attend this event. 

Importance of Debt-free college education

He touches on the fact that more and more students are getting into college debt because of high tuition costs. He is advocating for American students to have affordable education so that we can integrate onto society with a level of means so that we can contribute to economy by buying homes, cars or even starting a family. Student loan debt is a big issue in preventing future generations to obtain degrees and something must be done in Washington.

Hope to see you on Monday and support someone, regardless of party affiliation, is advocating and trying to protect of our generation from getting into student loan debt.

Symposium on racial justice

     On April 10th I had the opportunity to attend a forum offered by the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice call Racial Justice. It was held inside the Cronkite building from 1:15 pm to 3:00 pm. It was very interesting since the speaker lineup that were present, touched on racial problems that the state of Arizona is faced with. The topics were racial profiling, the use of taser guns, professional policing and proper training, and community perspective on overuse of police force .

     It was an information session and a focus on the factors that contribute to current social, racial and criminal justice issues. We had the opportunity to ask questions and get answers from very prominent professionals in these fields. I definitely left with a different perspective on what law enforcement have to face everyday when left with making decisions that affect the lives of many. I also had the opportunity to meet Sarah Buel, clinical professor of law and was very pleased with her input on racial justice. Also, several students from the School of Criminology gave great information on teens and violence and Ayensa Millan, an ASU law school graduate spoke on Arpaio and the issued we face with police and immigration in Arizona.

Interns in actions

Every month Arizona Department of Administration offers interns an opportunity to tour am public agency. I have had the opportunity to tour the Health Inspection building with department of health services, and the traffic control building with Department of transportation.

 I learned so much on how our traffic is monitored as well as accidents and all of the freeways or highways signs.

The employees at this agency went above and beyond to let us have hands on experience in how our Arizona Department of Transportation is handling our traffic to better serve the drivers.

TOUR OF THE CAPITOL

TOUR OF THE CAPITOL 

WE HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MEET REPRESENTATIVE CECI VELASQUEZ . she was gracious enough to give us a personal tour and introduce us to some of the over achievers representative that were still hanging out after a ardous well job well done passing bills.

we had a wonderful time and after the tour she allowed us to ask as many questions 

as we wanted in regards to legislature process. She is a very vivacious

and passionate representative and I  learned a lot. I have more 

respect for what this publi leaders do fo the citizens

that voted for them .

TOUR OF THE CAPITOL

Career Service Handshake to Hire

     I had the opportunity to attend the Handshake to Hire information and mentoring session offered by School of Public Affairs and ICMA Student Chapter, on Tuesday April 28, 2015 at 3:00 p.m.
They  had a panel of government HR Professionals coaching and mentoring us on how to interview better, review your resume and what not to do during your interview.

The agencies that were there were: Arizona City County Management Association, City of Mesa, City of Phoenix, City of Surprise, Fountain Hills City Council, Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), Maricopa County, State Of Arizona - Department of Administration, Town of Gilbert, U. S. Department of Commerce – US Commercial Service in Arizona, International Trade Administration, Valley of the Sun United Way, AND MORE. 
I had the opportunity to talk one on one with a coupe of managers and they had great insight on how I could sell myself and what to do prior to the interview.

It was a information pack session that explained the hiring process of each agency and how to make your resume stand out. One of the suggestions that had was to change your resume to better tailor the needs of the job, to write an updated cover letter and to write a thank you letter as a follow up.