Alicia Rose, a senior majoring in international affairs, received a GW Knowledge in Action Career Internship Fund grant for summer 2013. She is the vice president of academic affairs for the Student Association.

I am writing in response to the article, “One on One: Don’t underestimate unpaid internships,” by Justin Peligri and Robin Jones Kerr (Sept. 15, p. 4).

I’d like to highlight an opportunity for GW students who may want to take an unpaid internship but are unsure how to afford it. Many students might not be aware that you can receive funding from the University to pursue unpaid internships, which can reduce the financial burden of an unpaid position. That’s all the more reason why an unpaid position, like the authors write, should never be off the table.

I received a grant from the GW Knowledge in Action Career Internship Fund to intern full-time for summer 2013 in the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo with the TOMODACHI Initiative, a public-private partnership founded after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku. The initiative supports the next generation of leaders in Japan and the U.S. through bilateral educational, cultural and leadership programs.

When I stayed in Tokyo to study abroad at Waseda University for the 2013-14 academic year, I decided to continue my internship part-time because of the endless opportunities and experiences that TOMODACHI provided me.

My internship became the highlight of my year abroad. I built relationships with staff members in TOMODACHI and the U.S. Embassy as well as throughout the Japanese nonprofit, corporate and government sectors. I met U.S. presidents, policymakers and CEOs. I worked on program development, marketing, alumni relations and event planning. I organized and presented at receptions, orientations and conferences. I improved my Japanese through working in a bilingual environment. I even helped out with a couple Japanese TV shows.

However, the most rewarding part was assisting with TOMODACHI programs and speaking with participants about how their lives were impacted by TOMODACHI.

Considering the merits of unpaid internships and the success of grants like KACIF, the Student Association is also advocating for more access to internship credit.

KACIF along with other fellowships were an integral part of my ability to live and intern in Tokyo, and I encourage anyone interested in pursuing an unpaid internship during the school year or the summer to apply. Grants range from $1,000 to $3,000, and the spring 2015 application will open later this semester.