Sophia Candelaria ’25: Learning is for Life
Discover the enriching journey of TFAS alumna Sophia Candelaria ’25, a civic and economic thought and leadership major from Arizona State University, who discovered a whole new world during her transformative summer in Washington, D.C.
🏫 University: Arizona State University
📚 Major: Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership
📍 Hometown: Paradise Valley, AZ
🧭 Program Track: International Affairs
💼 Internship: Hertog Foundation
How has your TFAS Summer impacted you, professionally and/or personally?
🔮 Shaping My Future
This summer with TFAS has been an incredible experience. From hanging out with my fellow interns, to attending events around the city, and exploring all DC has to offer, I can truly say that this summer has been one that has been very fruitful. Additionally, being able to live, learn and intern in D.C. has allowed me to see myself working in D.C. once I graduate from college.
What was the most interesting thing you did at your internship?
🌎 Gaining a New Perspective on International Affairs
The most interesting thing I did at my internship was learn about the European Chips Act and the US Chips and Science Act. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States and Europe have been wary about depending on East Asia for semiconductor production and have attempted to onshore this production. Learning about these two industrial policies, I was able to gain more insight into how semiconductors are becoming the key commodity of the 21st century, just like gold or cotton was in the past. This research also gave me more perspective on geopolitical competition with China, and how it is not just U.S. political or military influence that’s being challenged, but also U.S. economic and technological influence.
What did you like most about living in Washington, D.C.?
🏛️ Walking Among History
I loved being so close to the monuments. Sometimes in the early mornings or late afternoons, I would take a walk around the National Mall, stopping by the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. The amount of history these monuments hold is incredible, and being within walking distance of them made this summer even more of a surreal experience.
🗣️ Attending Speaker Events
One of the things I also loved was attending different speaker events in the city. Throughout the summer, I was able to attend a couple of Hudson Institute events and a Free the Facts event, where I not only met other interns but also listened to and met with prominent experts and leaders in government on current issues like defense, the national debt and the rise of China.
How did you grow professionally during your time in Washington, D.C.?
💪 An Environment to Thrive
This summer in D.C. has shown me that just being in the city makes you want to work harder and learn as much as you can. Everyone in D.C., including the interns, is incredibly passionate, driven and has an innate desire to excel professionally. This environment alone was enough to inspire me to work hard and grow alongside my peers.
🤝 Connection Queen
Through various TFAS speaker events, the Mentor Mixer and Alumni Roundtable + Networking Dinner, I was able to step outside of my comfort zone and connect with former alumni and guest speakers over my interests and the research I was doing in my internship. Connecting with other people on a professional level gave me more insight into the different career opportunities that align with my interests and passions.
How did this experience change the way you show up in professional spaces?
🔑 Confidence is Key
This summer in D.C. has made me significantly more confident in professional spaces. Being exposed to a timely research area during my internship, as well as discussions of US foreign policy in my foreign policy class, has made me more confident in my knowledge and ability to convey my thoughts on various issues to others. One of the things I realized is that it’s essential to express an interest in the area where the professional you’re networking with is currently working. Doing this allows them to see that you have a keen interest in what they do, which helps you to grow and expand your professional network.
What advice do you have for future TFAS students?
🧠 Knowledge is Power
Never stop learning! Before coming to D.C. I was a bit nervous that I did not know enough about different issue areas to properly excel in my internship and my classes. However, I soon realized that what mattered was my willingness to learn, not how much I already knew. Everyone living, working and interning in D.C. is incredibly smart and talented, but in such a fast-paced environment, one of the things that I quickly latched on to was how being adaptable helps you to learn.
When I first started my internship, my boss planned for me to focus on cybersecurity policy, but as the goals for his project shifted, I had to pivot my research to learning about industrial policies on semiconductors. Before the summer, I knew virtually nothing about semiconductors, why they were important, or how they fit into geopolitical competition with China. Learning to be adaptable allowed me to be ready to learn more about semiconductors, which has given me a different perspective on how China seeks to challenge the United States on an economic and technological level.