Student Internship Spotlight: Chea-Ler Tan
Class of 2027
Major:
Double Major in Political Science & International Relations and Criminal Justice
Internship:
International Justice Mission (IJM)
Location:
Hybrid
Duration:
Four months
Where are you from and what brought you to Marymount?
I’m originally from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but moved to Shanghai, China when I was in middle school. My two older sisters moved to the U.S. for college—one to Seattle and the other to the D.C. area—so when it came time for me to choose a school, I wanted to choose one of those locations to be close to them. I selected Washington, D.C., because I knew it would have more opportunities for me within the political science field. My parents are Catholic and I was very much raised in that spirit, and was interested in going to a Catholic college that would feel familiar.
You have just wrapped up your second year at Marymount. What has your experience been like so far?
It’s been pretty amazing! I love the campus community—everyone from the students to the professors are great. At first, I was a little anxious and didn’t know what to do or how to meet new people. Once I had the chance to join some clubs and get to know people in my classes, I made lots of great connections. I have really enjoyed the political science program and getting to know my professors. They are eager to help students build connections and network in D.C. So all of that has been awesome—I’m really happy here.
Tell us about the International Justice Mission and what you did as an intern there.
The International Justice Mission (IJM) is a global Christian nonprofit that works with law enforcement offices and agencies around the world to combat human trafficking and modern slavery. I was a global people support intern on IJM’s spiritual formation and experience team. One of the main things my department was doing was trying to set employee experience standards and spiritual rhythms for the entire organization. A big part of that was organizing the quarterly prayer retreat where IJM employees from across the country come together for a day of workshops, seminars and spiritual formation. I helped organize logistics for that and saw what goes into planning something of that scale. I also helped the team prepare for Global Missions Week as they brought global leaders to a D.C. conference. So I got lots of practical experience with putting together events, handling logistics and working with different teams.
How has this internship helped you learn and grow?
It was my first hybrid, in-office internship experience so it taught me a lot about what working in an office is like. Learning how to dress professionally and interact with people on a professional level has helped give me a better idea of what to expect in the workplace. This internship also opened my eyes to career possibilities within the criminal justice field. Before this, I sort of had tunnel vision—I was dead set on working for a federal agency and wasn’t really looking at anything else. But this experience introduced me to the world of nonprofit work and how it contributes to the criminal justice field. Now, I am a lot more open to exploring that world and seeing where it could lead.
What is your advice to students about making the most of their internship experience?
Putting yourself out there and investing in relationships with the people around you is key. Obviously you are there to work and produce something, but you are also there to establish relationships and build connections. It’s so much more enjoyable for everyone when you really take the time to get to know people and their stories. In addition to that, don’t be afraid to ask people about themselves and their experiences. A lot of people are scared to overstep or bother their coworkers, so they just do their own thing. But I’ve found that people are usually very willing to share their stories and help you in whatever way they can. You never know if you don’t reach out, so I would say just go for it.
