Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
The REP-PP Program allows me to gain practical experience in the field of law I wish to practice. I am interested in practicing Energy Law, specifically the environmental regulatory aspect of Energy Law. REP-PP will allow me to work directly with the agencies that engage in writing and enforcing regulations relevant to the energy industry.

What are you most excited about as your semester in the REP-PP begins?
I am excited to use the classroom knowledge I have gained during law school, and apply this knowledge practically on a daily basis during my externship. I am also excited about all the valuable information I will learn once I begin my externship.

What skills do you hope to gain from your experiences in the REP-PP?
I hope to gain a better understanding of the administrative process. Engaging in the administrative process on a daily basis will allow me to gain invaluable experience as I prepare for my future as a lawyer.

How do you think this opportunity will help you develop as a lawyer?
The ability to spend a semester during law school working under practicing attorneys in the city in which I wish to practice, is a very rare opportunity for a law student. The ability to make networking connections and gain practical experience prior to graduating will be beneficial to me as I begin my career as a lawyer.

How does your participation in the REP-PP demonstrate the Aggie Core Values?
(Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, Selfless Service)
Acceptance into the program means the participant has exhibited excellence throughout law school and prior experiences as well. The participants demonstrate leadership by representing Texas A&M School of Law as we travel into Austin and D.C. As the participants engage in quality work they will generate respect for the REP-PP Program and Texas A&M School of Law.

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
I am excited to experience Austin during a Legislative Session. I hope to get outside of my comfort zone and make new lasting connections.

Click here to read Britt's blog post on the Aggie Core Value of​ Excellence.

Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
Public policy is the reason I came law school. This program is everything I have been working towards, and I hope it will be the first step in a long and successful career in public policy.

What are you most excited about as your semester in the REP-PP begins?
The opportunity to use the skills and knowledge I have acquired in law school in practice, to meet new people and network, and to experience living in a new city!

What skills do you hope to gain from your experiences in the REP-PP?
I hope to gain practical, hands-on skills in shaping public policy. I also hope to meet the people and make the connections required to have a successful career in public policy.

How do you think this opportunity will help you develop as a lawyer?
Learning the “ins and outs“of the policy making process will be huge help to my development as a lawyer. From identify the need of a policy, to eventually implementing an effective policy; participating the complete public policy process is an invaluable experience.

How does your participation in the REP-PP demonstrate the Aggie Core Values?
(Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, Selfless Service)
The REP-PP will give me to opportunity to show how Aggie Law students are hard working and deliver when it counts.  This program gives us the chance to show the legal and public policy making communities that the Aggie Core Values are not just empty words, but persist in every Aggie Law student’s character and every piece of work we do.

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
My personal goal is to do the best work I possibly can for the organization I work for. I want to make a real, observable impact on both the organization I work for and the people affected by these public policies. My true goal is to do the most good I can for the most amounts of people, and the REP-PP is the best way for me to do that.

Additionally, I hope this program helps me lay the foundation for a future career in public office where I can truly be a public policy creator.

Click here to read ​Stuart's blog post on the Aggie Core Value of Selfless Service.

Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
I decided to participate in the Public Policy Externship program because I would like to gain exposure to and first hand experience of how policies that affect all aspects of our lives are created. Additionally, being immersed in a fast paced, high up-tempo, and demanding environment excites me and what better experience to have then being a productive citizen in our Nation’s capitol, contributing to the fight by way of policy making.

What are you most excited about as you prepare for the REP-PP?
I’m most excited about being the little man on the totem pole. When you are the most inexperienced you are vulnerable to learning and effective leaders are open to teaching you the ropes while navigating through day-to-day operations. This will allow me to be a sponge and soak-in as much as possible during a time when newly elected officials will be taking office and hitting the ground running.

What skills do you hope to gain from your experiences in the REP-PP?
I hope to leave DC with a vast understanding of policy processes, enhanced legal research and writing skills, and the ability to frame an extremely complex issue in as little words as possible. Oh, and I hope I leave with a Kick-butt elevator speech because apparently if you don’t have one you are probably not doing something right.

How do you think this opportunity will help you develop as a lawyer?
Well, first, I think that this experience is going to allow me to grow as a “young” professional and provide me with the basic fundamentals of lawyering amongst other significant attributes. It will help me develop communication skills with different entities of government and really provide me with the opportunity to expand my knowledge on legal issues. It will also allow me to hone my research and writing skills and hopefully assist me with being an efficient and more creative thinker.

How does your participation in the REP-PP demonstrate the Aggie Core Values?
(Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, Selfless Service)
My participation in REP-PP directly correlates with the values of Self-less Service, Respect, and Leadership. REP-PP will require me to step into a leadership role in some capacity to be an effective member of the team in which I am placed. My loyalty to public service is shown through my willingness to uproot my family for an entire semester to embark on a quest to DC to personally learn while impacting the public at large. Respect is a must at all times but even more so when you are dealing with such a diverse organization of people.

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
I would like to attend one of those fancy dinner parties that I see on TV. More importantly I would like to leave my externship placement knowing that my time was well spent and that my efforts were useful in a productive manner. I would also like to take some time to visit my Alma Mater and explore the DMV with my family. Another personal goal is to run the marine marathon while I am in town with some high-speed policy makers who are up for the challenge. Might as well go all out.

Click here to read Tie She`'s blog post on the Aggie Core Value of ​Leadership.

Click here to read Tie She`'s blog post on the Aggie Core Value of ​​Respect.

Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
To pursue a career in criminal justice reform. I wanted to be able to take the opportunity while still in school to work on the public policy that matches my passions and drive, to grow the skills necessary for a successful career in the field.

What are you most excited about as your semester in the REP-PP begins?
I’m really excited to focus on one area. A lot of law school is all over the place, so it will be nice to be  able to focus on one aspect of the law and how it truly affects people. Also, a lot of law school courses are reflective, looking back at how the law has changed to get to where we are today. This opportunity will provide me a chance to look forward at what the law ought to be and how we can get there from where we are. It will be exciting to look at new ideas and policies; new solutions to old problems.

What skills do you hope to gain from your experiences in the REP-PP?
I hope to increase my communication skills to effectively argue the harder areas of criminal justice reform. I hope to learn yet another way to look at the criminal justice issues, to hopefully bring together different methodologies and truths to find solutions to our problems.

How do you think this opportunity will help you develop as a lawyer?
I will be thrown into the fire in a fast moving environment. I will be confronted with new and old issues, new and old solutions. In the fast moving world of policy making, I will have to be able to effectively research and communicate in a concise manner at a high pace. This opportunity will help me in all assets of time management, planning, research, writing, and communication.

How does your participation in the REP-PP demonstrate the Aggie Core Values?
(Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, Selfless Service)
Texas has a unique opportunity to be a leader in criminal justice reform. Playing a part in this process will allow me to use my leadership skills to help my team be at the forefront of the process. Also, public policy is public service. In both areas you must portray excellence and integrity. For me, it is important to be trusted in my organization so that my research carries weight with my supervisors. Also, as I will be working pro bono on criminal justice policy I am able to devote a large amount of my time to my fellow Texans and the future that Texas should have.

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
I want to continue to develop my networking skills. One of the biggest draws to participate in this program is the opportunity to be submerged in the professional setting and be able to grow professionally and personally within that setting. I am looking forward to attending events in Austin during the congressional session and hopefully make connections that will help me achieve my goals in criminal justice reform

Click here to read Sean's blog post on the Aggie Core Value of ​Loyalty.

Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
After a wonderful summer experience interning in Washington, D.C., I knew I wanted to return. The REP-PP is a great opportunity for students who want to work in D.C. to get a “foot in the door” with agencies they might not otherwise be able to work with due to geographic restrictions. This program gives Texas A&M students interested in federal service the opportunity to begin their careers in places other than the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

What are you most excited about as your semester in the REP-PP begins?
I am looking forward to a practical learning experience that will prepare me for practice and help me to make valuable connections for a future career.

What skills do you hope to gain from your experiences in the REP-PP?
Law school is a great place for students to gain an abstract understanding of the law, but internship and externship experiences help students to see the connections in practice. I hope that my spring externship will serve as a capstone to my legal education, allowing me to put to use the skills I have developed as a law student.

How do you think this opportunity will help you develop as a lawyer?
This opportunity will make me a more well-rounded student and future job candidate. Employers are increasingly concerned, and rightly so, with hiring young lawyers who offer not only a strong academic record, but also a diverse set of practical experiences. Participating in the REP-PP will allow me to expand upon the skill sets I’ve developed in law school, and to broaden my understanding of the law—especially as it pertains to immigration and federal agencies—in practice.

How does your participation in the REP-PP demonstrate the Aggie Core Values?
(Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, Selfless Service)
I am particularly interested in public service through government work. This interest is a direct result of my desire to pursue a career characterized by selfless service, which represents, to me, one of the most important values an Aggie lawyer should possess. I find that when I work for the benefit of others (and not just myself), I more naturally embody the other Core Values. In my experience, each of these values—leadership, loyalty, respect, integrity, and excellence—are the fruits of a life dedicated to something greater than oneself.

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
Through the REP-PP I hope to mature into my role as a young attorney. In a way, this program will bridge the divide between my role as a law student and my career as a lawyer. I hope to engage in meaningful work, and to be an outstanding representative for the law school and for future generations of Aggie lawyers.

Click here to read Jessica's blog post on the Aggie Core Value of ​Integrity.

Click here to read Jessica's blog post on the Aggie Core Value of Selfless Service.

Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
I decided to participate in REP-PP because I experienced how public policy can help the greater good this past summer while working at Mothers Against Drunk Driving and I wanted to pursue this area of the law further.

What are you most excited about as your semester in the REP-PP begins?
I’m most excited about learning more about the Texas government and public policy in general.

What skills do you hope to gain from your experiences in the REP-PP?
I hope to improve my writing and research skills.

How do you think this opportunity will help you develop as a lawyer?
I think this opportunity will really help me network and gain a broader understanding of what lawyers can do in government.

How does your participation in the REP-PP demonstrate the Aggie Core Values?
(Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, Selfless Service)
I believe that my participation in the program demonstrates the Aggie Core Values because each of them are present in the program.

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
My personal goal is to strengthen my ties to the Austin community -- and find the perfect venue for my and my fiancé’s wedding.

Click here to read Kourtnee's blog post on the Aggie Core Value of Leadership.

Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
I want to participate in the REP-PP program because I am passionate about environmental policy and want to learn more about the administrative process that takes place at the Texas state level. I am excited to have an opportunity to work with policy makers in Austin and try to see the challenges inherent in the system and ways to work within the system.

What are you most excited about as your semester in the REP-PP begins?
I am excited to meet the people at my position and the people that I will work with as I hope that these are my co-workers as I graduate and start my career. I am also excited for the speaker series that the program offers to see different speakers throughout the state government to get a diverse perspective on available public policy careers.

What skills do you hope to gain from your experiences in the REP-PP?
I hope to gain practical experience in drafting and working with policy makers as well as networking skills and relationships that I can carry into my career.

How do you think this opportunity will help you develop as a lawyer?
I think this opportunity will help me learn on-the-job skills that are hard to learn in the classroom which will translate well into a public interest career, such as writing recommendation statements, reviewing government contracts, and other policy related documents.

How does your participation in the REP-PP demonstrate the Aggie Core Values?
(Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, Selfless Service)
This program requires excellence in personal responsibility, as we will be ambassadors of the school in Austin. The program also requires selfless service as the program focuses on public service and I would like to be a public servant as my career continues.

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
My personal goals are to work hard and make a good impression for myself on the people I work for and to represent the school with aplomb to continue the relationship that I will create between the agency and the school so more Aggies can get the position that I will have this coming spring.

Click here to read ​Henrik's blog post on the Aggie Core Value of ​Integrity.

Why did you decide to participate in the REP-PP?
I decided to participate in the REP-PP this year because I want to gain experience in Austin during the legislative session.

What are you most excited about as your semester in the REP-PP begins?
I am excited to work in Austin, Texas. I have lived in Texas all of my life and this is my first opportunity to learn how policy influences the laws that govern my home state.

What skills do you hope to gain from your experiences in the REP-PP?
I hope to become an expert on the legislative process in Texas. Furthermore, I hope to learn how to influence policies I believe in while improving my research, writing, and public speaking skills.

How do you think this opportunity will help you develop as a lawyer?
This opportunity will help me integrate into the “working world” before I graduate law school. I hope to develop professional interpersonal skills and improve my legal writing.

How does your participation in the REP-PP demonstrate the Aggie Core Values?
(Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, Selfless Service)
I attended Texas A&M in College Station for my undergraduate degree and I now attend Texas A&M School of Law. As an Aggie for more than 5 years, the Aggie Core Values are also my core values. Excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect, and selfless service are values that I try to uphold every day. And I see the Core Values in every Aggie, current or alumni, who I have been privileged to meet.

I will continue to represent Texas A&M in everything that I do while working as an extern. I will demonstrate excellence in my writing and researching. I will demonstrate integrity and loyalty with all of my co-workers. I will have respect, not only for my superiors, but for every person in the office, and I will demonstrate selfless service in my work product. Finally, I will demonstrate leadership as I represent the REP-PP and Texas A&M School of Law

What are your personal goals for your semester in the REP-PP?
My personal goals in the REP-PP are to put my roots down in Austin. I plan to move to Austin when I graduate and I hope to have an amazing network of people in the city who I enjoy working with and spending time with outside of work. On top of that, I hope to show, during my placement, that I am a loyal and determined co-worker, hoping to make a difference in Austin next year, and for years to come.

Click here to read ​Lola's blog post on the Aggie Core Value of Respect.