"I am extremely happy that I was able to participate in the internship program this past summer. I was really impressed with how prepared the other interns were. I was also impressed with how committed they were to their own respective campuses, and also to the California community college system. There were both promising and frustrating moments. I think we grew a lot as a group by learning how to deal with those frustrating moments and also learning how to turn those frustrating moments into something productive. Now we can take the skills that we developed during the summer back to our campuses to share with the next group of interns that will participate in the fall."

-Darius Leevy, Summer 2009 Intern

"Both sessions of the American Federation of Teachers faculty guild internship have been enlightening and enjoyable experiences. I have learned several helpful tools that I will surely use in present day and later in life. With the help of some amazing coordinators I have advanced my leadership skills, learned how to approach people in the most effective manner, how to work with a diversity of people, how to properly represent students whose voices are unheard and how to balance my time efficiently. My confidence has grown with each class presentation and legislative visit. In order to make change we must overcome several obstacles and through this internship I have learned to do whatever is in my power to meet the final goal. It is in fact the people who hold the power and in this upcoming internship we will prove this to be true."
-Elizabeth Valldejuli, Intern

"Working with for the AFT internship was both motivational and inspirational. Whenever I previously imagined an internship, I pictured being an unappreciated “errand-runner”, but the AFT internship was different. The intern’s opinions, suggestions and ideas were always craved, and I found it amazing when I witnessed thoughts that I conjured taking life in the work we did. It is this work that genuinely makes a difference, so get involved in the internship because the affects of budget reductions are serious; they affect you, your peers and your siblings and family."
-Brian J., Summer 2009 Intern

"The American Federation of Teachers internship has been an amazing learning experience. It taught me how to become a better leader and also ways to approach students in a more effective way such as how to get them involved, how to talk to them, how to make time for them to listen to what we have to say and also, get them to speak out for themselves. Although, there was a lot of information that needed to be updated, the learning experience was fun and enthusiastic. Prior to the internship, I wasn’t aware of what was going on in the community or the issues that could affect me as a student. Therefore, recruiting students against budget cuts became a passion for success and also the willingness to make a change. Additionally, in order to make a change, I needed to start changing myself. I began to think as a leader with the responsibility of creating awareness within my school. The internship has sharpened my leadership skills and given me the courage to keep going on my path to success."
-Nancy A. Pineda, Summer 2009 Intern

" I had tons of fun and it was an honor working with the other interns from the other community colleges during the 2009 Summer Internship with AFT. We had the pleasure of meeting several staff members from the senators offices and actually met Senator Warren Furutani in person who we were able to converse with on our education concerns. I think we can do much more this coming year if we work together as team and expand our members, especially if all California Community Colleges join forces with us. The one thing I would love to see happen is to be able to talk to the Republican Senators. They need to sit down and listen to our stories so they can see how their decisions are affecting our dreams and goals by attacking our education. I can see all of us interns working hard to save our education, getting our voices heard, and most of all getting our fellow students to be informed. We started of small but I know we will end up being a huge success."

-Betty Rios, LAHC Intern

"One experience that I will take with me from this internship was being able to work with a diverse group of people for a single cause. But being able to meet people such as Zack, and Christin from the spring semester, that have made a difference in people lives, was the greatest experience of all. If I work hard and continue to work for my community, I know I will be able to make a difference. The internship not only helped me become more educated about the issues that affect me as a student, but also gave me a chance to see things in a different perspective."

- Reyna Mendez, Summer 2009 Intern