It’s been six years since I first walked into the O’Neill School. At that time, I was an undergraduate Public Safety Management major, eager for a chance to explore potential careers, learn the skills I would need to succeed, and see what I could do to make a difference in the world. Now I stand on the edge of my own future, finishing my Master of Public Affairs degree and preparing to launch my career.
In this past half-decade, O’Neill has afforded me opportunities beyond my wildest expectations. I’ve studied abroad in London, Ireland, and Poland through O’Neill International. I’ve spent a semester in Washington, D.C., with the Washington Leadership Program. I’ve completed multiple internships in Indianapolis. Through all of these things, I have grown my network, confidence, and perspective of the world. Each new opportunity has expanded my professional experience and helped me focus the vision of my future career. They have provided both clarity and confidence as I prepare to take my next steps into the working world.
But in between these marquee moments have been seemingly smaller ones—the daily opportunities that have transformed who I am, both in my personal and professional affairs.
I started working for the O’Neill School as a front desk assistant when I was a sophomore. I later transitioned into a role as the Graduate Assistant for O’Neill’s Office of Career Services, where I still serve today. This position allows me to work with professionals in Indianapolis and with alumni across the nation to connect O’Neill students to opportunities in their areas of interest, just as others provided to me.
My favorite part of the job is planning Community Safety Career Day, which highlights the three main pillars of the O’Neill School: public safety, community resilience, and environmental sustainability. This event has not only been professionally rewarding through my role with O’Neill but also served as bridge to the next phase of my career.
In 2023, through my work with Community Safety Career Day, I connected with representatives from Marion County Emergency Management about an internship opportunity. It was in that internship that I was afforded a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be part of the Emergency Operations Center activation for the Total Solar Eclipse in 2024, working with the team to keep Hoosiers and visitors safe during a rare event that impacted our entire state and beyond.
This same internship also allowed me to experience the Indianapolis 500 in the Pagoda with public safety professionals and partake in the security operations for the NBA All-Star Weekend—two events that provided both memories and learnings that will carry forward with me.
These are the types of exceptional internship experiences the O’Neill Career Services office is intentional about sharing with its students. The goal is to provide every opportunity for our students to explore their fields of interest before they leave O’Neill.
It was a message from the Career Services office that alerted me to a research internship program with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. I knew I couldn’t let that opportunity pass me by. I applied, was accepted, and moved to Washington, D.C. for the summer to intern at DHS Headquarters and worked with the Science and Technology Directorate. With DHS, I toured the National Operations Center, FEMA National Response Coordination Center, and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. I even traveled to New York City to see the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory.
Within my DHS internship, I had the chance to meet and network with DHS leadership and research the tools and technologies DHS uses to safeguard our nation against all threats. The work I did at DHS helped me translate my coursework to the working world, shaping my understanding of government processes through real-life experiences.
Throughout my time at O’Neill, I have learned if you are willing to put yourself out there, you can accomplish great things. I came into college unsure of exactly what I wanted for my future and now I feel equipped to enter the workforce of public service because of the resources and support O’Neill has provided through its Office of Career Services, academic advisors, and faculty.
While my first steps into O’Neill seem so long ago now, they have led me to places I never could have imagined. The O’Neill School has exposed me to the inner workings of city, state, and federal government, allowed me to travel the world, and provided me with invaluable mentor relationships and long-lasting connections. And now, as I embark on my final walk through these hallways, I know I am ready to complete my MPA in Homeland Security and Emergency Management and head out into the workforce equipped to make a difference.
