For George Washington University sophomore Shweta Raman, community is everything. Her passion for helping others inspired her to pursue a career in public health.
“I come from a small town in New Jersey, and we’re very community oriented,” Raman said. “I grew up seeing how people would come together. It was my love for community building that led me to public health.”
Raman is currently studying public health with a minor in bioinformatics at GW. Her goal is to work in hospital efficiency to help healthcare workers maximize the impact they can have on patients.
As she plans for the future, one skill set Raman wants to further develop is her expertise in communications. That is why she was excited when she was accepted to do a summer internship in her home state working for Jersey Water Works.
Raman credits her involvement in GW organizations for helping her land the internship not only by bolstering her resume but also giving her relevant experiences and skills to bring to the internship.
Raman this semester works for the DC Metro Urban Health Program at the Milken Institute of Public Health assisting with creating communications materials. She also works as a tutor with Math Matters at the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service.
“So through that, I do a lot of community engagement and tailoring resources to meet students' needs,” Raman said.
Another big resource for Raman through her application process was Dennis Weeks, a career coach at GW Career Services.
“He was amazing. I met with him so many times throughout the weeks to ask for help with things like cover letters, editing my resumé,” Raman said. “One of the things I truly appreciate about him is he always listened to what I said and tailored his help to me. He was very motivating and there to always lend a helping hand, which I truly appreciate.”
Raman said Career Services is an invaluable resource for students because it offers everything from resume building to internship and job search assistance. Before visiting the center, she said it is helpful to spend time reflecting on your specific goals and connect that to what Career Services offers. Raman said she found it beneficial to have specific questions in mind before visiting the center.
She is excited to work at Waterworks because she knows she will leave the internship having learned so much, and she gets to return to her home community.
“I love New Jersey,” Raman said. “I'm so happy that I get to stay there for the summer and be with my friends and my family.”
When Raman returns to GW for her junior year, she will start a year-round research position at the GW Turner Lab. She was interested in the position because she wanted to learn more about data analytics.
“I'm excited to delve more into my analytical skills,” Raman said. “Bioinformatics is very heavy on data analytics, but it’s also good to know no matter what field you are in.”
She said what prepared her for the research position at the GW Turner Lab were the classes she’s taken at GW and the professors who take the time to carefully explain complicated course material to students.
As she looks forward to beginning both opportunities, Raman said she’s grateful to have had so many resources to assist her as she prepares for her career in public health.
“Internships are so important because it’s a way to build experience during undergrad,” Raman said. “The moment you graduate, you’re thrown into the real world. Knowing you have skills, connections and experience is big. And even if it isn’t an internship, anything students can do like volunteering or joining clubs around campus they are passionate about is important.”
