Alumni – Hari K. Choudhari

Last academic year’s TISB graduate, Hari K. Choudhari, is currently working as an intern as part of a political campaign for a New York Democrat Senator running in the upcoming US election. Hari is currently enrolled in Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, where he will be pursuing an International Relations degree. We contacted Hari to hear about his experience of doing an internship and the benefits that he sees from doing it.

An internship is always a good way to step outside of the theoretical box of the classroom and experience the practical implications of any subject you're interested in – Hari K. Choudhari.

As a recently graduated TISB alumni, Hari was quick to move into an internship in politics. He is currently working as intern coordinator with Senator Skoufis' political campaign in New York. In his role Hari ensures that the interns assigned to him are doing well, answering any questions they may have, and taking up any projects that he or the campaign staff believe to be important. He is also taking part in shifts, where he and other interns talk to voters directly to answer any questions or concerns they may have. As he is working remotely, Hari’s hours are flexible, and because of the time difference he does an hour or two shifts, mostly during night time. The rest comes down to communication that he does in his own time, which allows him to remain focus on his studies. “My internship is fully remote and online, which is a big plus for me considering I'm attending college online from Bangalore this semester. While it can get a bit overwhelming with college courses and submissions at times, I enjoy the responsibility”, explains Hari.

Hari believes that an internship is a great way of getting practical experience, and allows people to explore areas, topics and professional avenues that interests them. With regards to an internship specifically in politics, he thinks that it is more than just slogans and campaigns, and sees it as an opportunity to connect directly with regular people that are experiencing a variety of personal and societal problems, and to hear perspectives that may directly challenge your own. “The ultimate aim of politics is public service, and I think it's important that we put cynicism aside and do what we can to push for causes we believe in”, says Hari.

During his internship, Hari has had experiences with voters that has changed his personal outlook on life and politics. “There are a few calls with voters that I think I'll always remember, because of their kindness or an interesting conversation. Talking to people whose opinions are often disregarded, such as Trump supporters, have really forced me to dive deeper into my own values and think twice before dismissing someone's perspective”, explains Hari. Furthermore, the knowledge and skills that Hari has already gotten through his internship, such as voting databases and canvassing, he believes will be an advantage when he eventually apply for paid full-time jobs with campaigns in the future. Hari, who has a longstanding interest in politics and international relations concludes: “My experience has shown me that politics may be a potential career interest.”