Meet Madhri Yehiya (CAS ’24). Madhiri took part in her internship during the summer of 2022, at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
How did you learn about this internship opportunity? What career resources from BU or elsewhere did you use during the application and interview process?
I knew I wanted to find a work experience in my field in Sri Lanka for the summer because I had not visited my family there in 3 years due to the pandemic. I also knew I wanted to do a summer internship, so I found a way to combine both goals by looking up research organizations, nonprofits, and think tanks in the capital city of Colombo and applying to almost all of them. I knew that if accepted the travel costs might pose an issue, so I planned to apply to the Yawkey nonprofit fund. I also went to the CCD’s drop-in resume and cover letter review before submitting it.
Why did you choose to apply for this particular internship?
IPS’s mission to conduct research that aids the Sri Lankan government in making informed decisions to improve the lives of everyday people aligns with the reason why I am double majoring in International Relations and Economics. Developmental economics is an intersection between my fields, and I wanted to apply the econometric analysis skills I had gained through my coursework in the real world. Sri Lanka was also undergoing a massive economic crisis at the time, so to study its system’s failings simultaneously was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
What were your job responsibilities as an intern?
I designed an online survey to gather data on social media use, the personal financial impact of the Sri Lankan economic collapse, and public perception of the crisis among the Sri Lankan diaspora. I also created presentations based on online data collection for my supervisor’s use in public seminars, including research-based Excel graphs, tables, and visual aids describing economic conditions. Throughout the internship, I helped write reports for publication reviewing financial and reintegration resources available to migrant workers, and transcribed Key Informant Interviews. Research activities generally touched on climate change, migration, informal remittances, and the COVID-19 pandemic under the Urbanization and Migration Unit.
What was the most challenging part of your internship?
The economic crisis and fuel shortage significantly worsened in the weeks leading up to my arrival in early June 2022. What was supposed to be a hybrid internship became mostly virtual since it was impossible to get around reliably. This definitely detracted from the whole experience since I likely would have made more connections and had more of a chance to engage in a foreign workplace culture. However, this did allow me to achieve more of my personal goals in terms of spending time with extended family, practicing speaking Sinhala and exploring the country as much as possible.
What was the most memorable moment of your experience?
This was not directly a part of my internship, but a few days before I was due to leave, thousands of civilians who had had enough of the government’s incompetency and corruption stormed several public buildings, including the President’s residence. He fled the country as the streets filled with triumphant protestors. After two months of living in and studying the crisis, witnessing the revolution firsthand was definitely one of the most memorable moments of the whole experience!
What is the biggest takeaway from your internship experience?
I felt I was contributing to valuable research and raising awareness of Sri Lanka’s situation by creating presentations for my supervisor to give at talks both domestically and internationally. I felt more confident in my research skills being useful in whatever career I ended up in one day and got an inside look at what think tank work would look like. This was probably exacerbated by the fuel crisis, but I realized that I prefer more front-facing people-centered roles, even if the behind-the-scenes work I was doing was still valuable. Regardless, I feel confident in my ability to conduct research in my field, which is an important skill to have if I go on to write an honors senior thesis or pursue graduate studies.
What advice would you give to another student about making the most of an internship, job, or other career-related experience?
Connect with as many people and opportunities as is reasonable during your time there! It’s a chance to meet people from different backgrounds and skill sets that you may be glad to have known in the future. Even if you realize the field is not for you, transferable skills and silver linings can be found pretty much anywhere. Stay positive, remember to maintain a work-life balance, and make the most of whatever you get to do.
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