Sofia Sampayo
Mexico

I am a senior at the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) in Mexico, studying international relations. I applied for an internship at UNEP RONA because I was interested in learning how the United Nations deals with what is now one of the world's biggest challenges, the environment. Within hours of arriving at UNEP's Regional Office for North America (UNEP RONA), I helped prepare a press conference for the global launch of a Marine Litter Report on the first official UN World Ocean's Day on June 8, 2009. I really hit the ground running, and it was a great experience.

I also got the opportunity to attend U.S. Senate Hearings, such as the Hearings on Challenges and opportunities for U.S. - China cooperation on climate change. I truly did enjoy my time at UNEP RONA and I hope that experience prepared me for a career at the UN in the future. The internship allowed me to understand the practical side of what I learnt at school and how international organizations work.

Interning at UNEP was fun but also very demanding; you always have to be prepared for what's to come, preparing media kits, doing research or attending conferences on short notice. Nonetheless, it was an enriching experience and it gives you first-hand experience on current issues.