Xia Vang was a development intern at Breakthrough Twin Cities during Summer Session 2018. Check out what she had to say in her interview!
1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself! Where did you grow up, where did you go to school, how did you get involved in Breakthrough, etc. Also, where are you going to college and what are you studying?
I grew up Saint Paul, Minnesota and attended Linwood Monroe Arts Plus for elementary and middle school. I graduated from Harding Senior High and am now currently attending the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. I’m majoring in psychology with a double minor in Gender and Asian Studies. I’m a BTC Class of 2016 alum.
2. When and how did you hear about the internship opportunity here at Breakthrough, and when did you decide to get involved?
I was fortunate to get the Marie and Robert Jackson Fellowship, which allowed me to choose any internship that I wanted to do. I decided that I wanted to give back to Breakthrough for helping me get into college. I talked to Daniel Bernal (Senior Program Director) and he referred me to Sandy Landberg (Director of Development). I got a phone interview and landed this position!
3. What were some of your responsibilities in your internship, and what new skills did Breakthrough help you to develop?
Some of my responsibilities included looking for a new Booyah Bash venue, leading College Bound sessions and preparing lesson plans, and researching donor prospects. I also learned how to use the Salesforce database over the summer, which I had never heard of before this internship.
4. Where do you see yourself or hope to be ten years from now?
Before this summer I thought I would be a counselor ten years from now. However, now I think I want to work for a nonprofit organization and maybe do development work. But one thing for sure is that I am planning on getting my Master’s degree after I graduate.
