Daniela Stojkova, Class of 2008

1. Where are or did you intern? Briefly, what does/did your internship entail?
   I have been interning for Assistant State’s Attorney Dean Englebrecht at the Child Support Division since the fall of 2006. At my internship, I frequently go to court and sit in on most cases. I assist the attorney’s by issuing warrants for arrest, filling out paper work, and making copies. When we are back at the office, I help the secretaries with putting files away, keep statistics for the office, filling out paper work and mailing it out.
   
   
2. What aspects of your internship do/did you enjoy most? Find most challenging?
   I enjoyed going to court and interacting with the attorneys and the judge. I like learning background information on the cases and being given opportunities to participate in the cases. As far as challenging is concerned, sometimes there are too many cases going on at once. Sometimes it is difficult to help both attorneys at the same time, and sometimes the litigants that we see are rude and create uncomfortable situations.
   
   
3. How does/did your internship relate to what you have been studying at Illinois Wesleyan?
   Since I am a Political Science major and Sociology minor, my internship relates a lot to things that I have learned in my classes. The terminology used in the court room relates back to some of my Political Science courses, while the different demographics of the people we see, go along with some of the Sociological theories that I have learned about.
   
   
4. Has your internship given you any insight into what you would like to do upon graduating from Illinois Wesleyan?
   My internship has confirmed my hopes of becoming a family attorney. I have always wanted to be a family attorney, and after working with the Child Support Division, I am now certain that that is what I would like to continue doing in the future.
   
   
5. What advice, if any, would you give to Political Science majors looking for, or even just considering, an internship?
   I would tell anyone that is thinking about an internship to go for it and try it. Being in a professional setting teaches you a lot about possible occupations you may have considered. It is a wonderful learning experience and it is a great opportunity to network. I have thoroughly enjoyed my internship, which is why I have continued doing it for so long and I strongly recommend others to take a part in an internship that interests them!