My Summer at PETA

by Stephanie Lee

The day I arrived at PETA’s national headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, I looked around in awe at the place I had dreamed of working at since I was 9 years old. My three oversized bags of luggage and I were carted up on the elevator and into the main lobby. After e-mailing and talking with Melynda in human resources for months prior to arriving in Norfolk, it was such a pleasure to finally meet her, and she gave me a great big hug as soon as she walked into the room. Jay Kelly, the director of campaigns, was quickly walking through the building but stopped to say hello and welcome me to PETA. A quick look into the hallway off the lobby gave me a glimpse of a giant, white rabbit costume that looked like it had undergone a horrible skin test. The hair was missing from the rabbit’s side and there was blood and pus oozing out of an open wound. Talk about a reminder of why I came to PETA! Kim, supervisor of the intern house, helped me lug all my bags into the car and drove me to the Gordon House, where I would live for the next two months.

The first week of working in the International Grassroots Campaign Department flew by, and before I knew it, I was on my way to Washington, D.C., to protest the sale and transportation of 11 African elephants to U.S. zoos. After three women chained themselves inside the Swaziland Embassy with bike locks, a man dropped a banner from the balcony, and a great deal of fake blood was thrown on the front door of the embassy. The rest of us planted ourselves outside with a bullhorn and posters, and thus began my very first protest! It remains one of the best experiences of my life. To be able to stand up against the injustice and corruption that too many innocent animals fall victim to is the most liberating feeling in the world. For once in my life, I knew that I was doing exactly what I was meant to do.

A lot of interns who arrive at PETA are relatively new to the animal rights movement, and there is not a better place in which to learn everything you need to know in order to become the best activist you can be. It is not just about waving posters and yelling at the top of your lungs. You learn the time and place for certain behaviors, because conveying the message in a manner that is most effective for the animals is what we are here to do. Sometimes it is frustrating beyond belief not to be able to voice your opinion in the way that you want, but at PETA you learn the importance of when to be civil and when to be loud enough to wake the neighbors!

You will not find a more wonderful, inclusive group of people with whom to work. Whether you decide to venture off after your internship, or you think you might want to stick around, the experiences you have and the relationships you form at PETA are invaluable.

On PETA:

HOW TO APPLY

There are no deadlines for internship applications. We accept them year-round and review them as they arrive. We make a decision within two weeks of receiving the application. To apply, you may:

Download and complete PETA's intern application (Acrobat Reader required) and attach a résumé, three letters of recommendation, and a double-spaced essay of at least two pages describing your specific interest in animal rights, what skills you can bring to PETA, and what you would like to gain from your time here. Print, and return to the address below.

For more information on PETA's internship program, please review our "Frequently Asked Questions." For an application, contact:

Human Resources Department
Intern Coordinator
PETA Foundation
501 Front Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
Tel.: 757-622-7382
Fax: 757-628-0789
E-Mail: interns@fsap.org

We look forward to hearing from you soon.