Students take to intern program
By: Sara Peters
They are ambitious, focused and resolute. They are devoted to their community and determined to work as a team. They are seven South Brunswick teens now reaching the close of an eight-week internship working directly for Mayor Deborah Johnson.
These students, Erin Karp, 18, Shyam Gohel, 18, Tanya Santana, 17, Christina Branche, 17, Sarah Ahmad, 17, Angela Trilli, 17 and Kalpana Sampale, 15, unanimously rave about the experience.
"Working here has let me see how much the municipal government does every day," said Shyam. "It’s shown me that they really do care about you."
This is the second year of the Mayor’s Internship Program, sponsored by the township. To be eligible, applicants must be South Brunswick High School students, or recent South Brunswick graduates. The internship lasts for eight weeks, ending this Friday.
One of the most important functions of the intern program is to make the part-time mayor more accessible for the public. Normally, during daytime hours, Mayor Johnson is out-of-town working as an attorney, and residents’ questions and calls are answered by a machine, or are directed to the township manager.
However, during these eight weeks, the mayor’s office is a flurry of activity. The interns are striding purposefully about the office, speaking intently with visitors, or hunched over desks preparing large mailings, managing the phones, studying laptop screens, writing letters, perusing the news and compiling information to prepare Mayor Johnson for her upcoming meetings.
Nonetheless, one can spot a touch of whimsy in the office. A Slinky, a gift from Mayor Johnson to the interns, hangs about Kalpana’s wrist like a bracelet. "Debbie gives us toys," she says, smiling. "She’s always doing little things like that to encourage us."
The interns and their employer mutually laud each other’s accomplishments. "She’s a phenomenal role model," said Sarah about the mayor.
"She’s a great person," added Angela. "She treats us like her peers, her equals."
And Mayor Johnson said she feels the same about her interns. "They’re all so full of enthusiasm and good ideas," she said. "I feed off of that. I thrive on their energy."
Besides the everyday clerical work that they all share, the seven students were assigned to teams, working extensively on a number of municipal projects. Mayor Johnson assigned each to these projects, based upon their aptitudes, and upon her expectations of who would work together effectively as a team.
Christina and Erin worked together as part of the Art Task Force, a program to foster the development of visual and performing artists in the community. The two worked together to get the task force official recognition from the township. Erin, the head intern, wrote a proposal to the Township Council while Christina composed an ordinance for the council to consider. The council approved the ordinance this summer. One of the components of the program is an art exchange, which allows district schools to send the art work of students to the township for display in the municipal building.
"It’s good for young artists," said Erin. "It gives them an outlet for their creativity, and encourages them to continue their work."
Christina also was assigned to work with Angela on the Giving Youth Motivation mentoring program. In addition, Angela was appointed to work at the Senior Center organizing events and instructing computer classes.
Another team specialized in compiling information, both to help the public understand important issues in the community, and to make it easier for the mayor to access her own files. Tanya organized a multitude of files, and created a comprehensive computerized data base for the mayor’s office. Sarah paired up with Tanya to produce two video documentaries: one that describes the debate surrounding the Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Rail, and one that outlines the structure of South Brunswick’s municipal government.
Kalpana joined with Shyam on a number of projects. The team compiled and distributed a survey to industrial leaders in the community to measure their awareness about municipal issues that could influence their businesses.
In addition, the duo organized Student Government Day, an event at which students could become more familiar with the structure of South Brunswick’s municipal government, and meet the township officials.
Shyam and Kalpana also represented the mayor in her stead at municipal meetings, where the MOM line and other issues were discussed.
"They’ve really done so much work," said Mayor Johnson. "I’ve caught up on so much. We’ll just have to make do without them, once the tears stop flowing."
All seven expressed their appreciation to be a part of the program. "We’d really like to thank everyone involved," said Christina. "They’ve been so supportive."
"Debbie is incredibly focused on getting young people involved in their community and their government," added Erin."
Mayor Johnson, a longtime South Brunswick resident, said she developed the internship program to reciprocate for all of the contributions the township made to her childhood.
"I just want to do the same for other young people," she said.
The internship is just one of the many activities these students take part in. When asked what they do for fun, each intern simply added a list of more school and community groups that consume the majority of their "free" time. They include student government, the Women’s Commission, diversity groups and the track team.
This fall Erin will begin her freshman year at George Washington University, Washington, D.C., where she plans to study political science – specializing in communications and campaigning.
Tanya will attend North Carolina Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount, N.C., where she will pursue political science and journalism.
Shyam is on his way to New York University, Manhattan, but has not decided on which one of his interests he will focus.