Abigail Middleton

My extensive experience in work and volunteering, my advanced level in languages and my attainment of excellent grades in school has led me to be a well-rounded worker and has provided me with enough experience to be well suited to a variety of career paths. 

In my role in Rainbows and the dance school, I was regularly engaged with children facing emotional challenges. My responsibilities involved empathetic listening and finding tailored solutions to address their concerns. This experience honed my ability to navigate sensitive conversations, demonstrating my commitment to supporting the well-being of the children I volunteered with. 

Previous work experience includes bartending, childcare and retail, but aim to refine my skills with a professional internship. Through my job as a bartender, I developed proficient skills in client relations, ensuring that customer satisfaction was always upheld, even during the busiest days of the job. On top of this, through working in childcare, I have had to demonstrate consistent patience and developed extensive communication skills ensuring effective collaboration between both the group leaders and the children, in which I focused on needs and concerns being heard and fixed.

During school, I contributed to my community through my volunteering work at Girl Guiding UK; in which I planned and delivered a wide range of outdoor activities and ensured a positive and educational experience for each child involved. I enjoy working as part of a professional team which was required to organise my voluntary trip to Belize working closely with the charity Frontier. In Belize, I led activities during teaching at a local school, and took part in research for marine conservation of manatees. 

During my year abroad, I will complete my Diploma in French and European Studies alongside my degree in Politics and International Relations. Also, in my second year of university, I relished in the opportunity to create and complete a political ethnography, in which I focused on how gendered power relations work to silence female Members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons. Through the extensive research I conducted to construct this original thesis, I developed critical analysis skills and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to propose policy. 

I look forward to developing my skills and gaining valuable experience in the political field. As it is my future aspiration to work for an NGO or a governmental body to develop public policy and make a real difference in the hardships many people in Britain face daily. 

While my previous professional experiences have not been in the political realm, I have cultivated a strong foundation in critical skills that are directly applicable to a political internship. Through coursework in my Politics A-level, I've gained a comprehensive understanding of political systems, policy analysis, and effective communication strategies. 

Additionally, my involvement in hosting a mock election and debate club has allowed me to progress my leadership, teamwork, and organisational abilities. Through these experiences, I enjoyed encouraging younger students to become more politically involved and explained the significance of politics in daily life.

I have played a voluntary role in open days at my school and university. In these roles I encouraged prospective students to consider politics as a valuable academic path and communicated the benefits of political engagement and why I, personally love politics. 

While my professional experiences may differ, my dedication to understanding and contributing to the political landscape, coupled with my transferable skills, means I am a motivated and adaptable candidate for any political internship.

In my academic background, I have achieved an A-level in Politics and am currently working towards a degree in Politics. My education is directly aligned with my aspirations to apply for internships in the political sphere.

Also, my decision to complete a year abroad, studying at Sciences Po, Lyon, France, demonstrates my commitment to improving my knowledge of international relations. The diploma in French and European Studies that I am currently pursuing has equipped me with valuable insights into global affairs, particularly in the context of European politics.

My proficiency in French further enhances my candidacy for political internships, this is because French is often utilised within global political institutions as the secondary language. Also, living in France has given me a nuanced understanding of culture and its politics, which will allow me to navigate internships that require international communication. My unique combination of education and experience has given me the skills to contribute in dynamic political environments, which I can apply to internship positions.