Wilcox Central graduate enjoys internship with governor’s office
At the end of her first year at the University of Alabama, Kasia Nicholson, an 18-year-old Camden native, was selected for a position in the governor’s office internship program under the guidance of Gov. Kay Ivey, also a former resident of Wilcox County.
The internship, broken into two six-week sessions, lasted from early May until the middle of June.
This opportunity offers college students like Nicholson insight into the executive branch of state government and hands-on experience by completing projects and tasks related to their government office assignments.
Interns are placed based on their interests and skill sets to one of five offices in the Capitol building: appointments, communication, policy, education and workforce transformation and Cabinet agencies.
Nicholson was assigned to the appointment office. Her role required her to keep track of the governor’s appointments, edit documents, and sit in and take notes on any interviews taking place. Along with those responsibilities, she also shadowed state government officials and wrote about their occupations.
Although she has a different career in mind, Nicholson said she enjoyed her work at the appointment office and appreciated the exposure she received to an alternative perspective of state government.
Majoring in criminology and criminal justice with a minor in sociology on the pre-law track, she said, “After college, I plan to attend law school. I want to become a criminal defense attorney, and eventually, a district attorney.”
Nicholson explained, “My family has a background in law enforcement. However, I’ve always been interested in making changes in the criminal justice system. There are so many people who are wrongfully convicted or facing harsh punishments that they don’t deserve based on the crimes they committed.”
She added, “But I believe there’s an evolution coming to criminal defense and law enforcement. I want to be a part of that.”
Nicholson said that her time in Montgomery helped shape her into a well-rounded professional and introduced her to many fascinating people. “I now have political connections that I didn’t have before,” she said.
After finishing the program, Nicholson is now back home in Camden as a summer youth worker employed by Wilcox Works, where she will be shadowing District Judge Briana Westry at the Wilcox County circuit clerk's office this summer.
“The internship has opened my mind to other career avenues that I hadn’t considered before. Now, I want to see more of the judicial side, considering my wanting to be a district attorney.”
A graduate of Wilcox Central High School’s class of 2022, Nicholson was part of numerous organizations that allowed her to develop a professional identity and cultivate her leadership skills, one of which was Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) run by Veronica Newberry and Barbara Bowens.
She participated in FBLA word processing competitions, attended annual leadership conferences, planned programs and volunteered in the charity and fundraising events that the organization held, such as donating to the local nursing home and buying presents for foster children.
Newberry, WCHS career tech teacher and program director, said, “I’m very proud of Kasia. She’s a go-getter and a good communicator. I have no doubts that she’ll succeed in anything she decides to do in the future.”
Also, as a member of the Wilcox County Chamber of Commerce student ambassadors, Nicholson made a similar impression on the people she met in this role. “One thing that stood out to me about Kasia was that she always seemed to be smiling. Always positive and always smiling,” Michael Cook, director of the Chamber of Commerce, said.
Nicholson continues to be active in UA organizations. “On campus, I’m a member of the Black Student Union (BSU) and Women of Excellence.” She said, “I love having the occasion to get to know and connect with people I wouldn’t usually see on a daily basis.”
In Montgomery, Nicholson also discovered an opportunity to make new friends. “The other four girls I interned with are also all from the University of Alabama, but we had never met before. One day, we all just started talking and connecting, sharing tidbits of information, and we realized we had never seen each other although we attended the same school. Now I feel we’ll definitely stay connected.”
“Everyone has a great future ahead of them and I can’t wait to see how we all progress after this and over the next few years.”
She believes the same for all her friends in Camden as well. To anyone struggling to figure out their path, Nicholson said, “Whatever you do, don’t doubt yourself. Whatever it is, you can do it. If someone would’ve told my 9th grade self that I would be interning with Gov. Kay Ivey my freshman year of college, I would have never believed it. I wouldn’t have thought it was possible.”
She added, “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something because you’re from a small town or whatever the reason may be. Look at Gov. Ivey. She’s from Camden, and she’s the governor now. So, no. Never let anyone tell you can’t because you can. You can.”
Tags: Camden
