
Encounters from the U.S. Consulate: A Student Experience
As a third-year student majoring in Political Science and American Studies, spending a semester interning at the United States Consulate in Toronto was the most valuable political classroom I could’ve hoped for. It was my privilege to be involved in U.S.-Canada diplomacy during such pivotal moments in recent political history, when headlines moved faster than policy and every decision in Washington echoed across the border in real time.
Watching the shift between administrations and how it played out diplomatically brought my classroom education to life. The concepts and theories I had studied in POL208 were suddenly unfolding in real time. I found myself recognizing the mechanics of realism and liberalism not in textbooks, but in press briefings, media analysis, and conversations with career diplomats who had spent decades navigating the complexities of international relations. The understanding I gained from taking AMS200 and AMS300 was foundational in navigating American culture relative to Canadian culture, especially during this time of tension between the two countries and their respective values.
My role in Public Diplomacy placed me at the intersection of two nations’ identities. I helped manage outreach, monitor Canadian media, and prepare internal reports that captured how Canadian public opinion responded to U.S. domestic and foreign policy. Some days I was drafting summaries of Canadian news coverage; other days I was helping plan programs designed to build cross-border relationships. In all of it, my job was to observe, listen, and contribute to strategies that fostered understanding between Canadians and Americans.
One thing I came to understand quickly: diplomacy isn’t just about government-to-government relations. It’s actually mainly about people — and people are emotional, reactive, and deeply influenced by the political moment. A single policy announcement from Washington on anything like immigration, abortion rights, or climate policy could spark a wave of commentary across Canadian media. I’d read headlines one day expressing cautious support, and just days later, I’d be summarizing op-eds filled with frustration or concern. It’s incredible how dependent the two countries are on one another — whatever happens in America, the waves are always felt here.
One particular moment that stuck with me was reading public sentiment reports following a major U.S. policy announcement. I remember being surprised by how fast opinions shifted, not just among political commentators, but in civil society and youth organizations as well. It was a significant reminder that U.S. foreign policy doesn’t just affect its own citizens; it sends waves across the globe that are felt in countries like Canada, where economic, political, and social dynamics are tightly intertwined with the United States. Living in Canada while interning in the U.S. Consulate gave me a front row seat to observe how American leadership decisions influence public discourse here. It made me think more critically about how America is perceived from outside its own borders and how much that perception matters to the rest of the world.
But what I’ll remember most are the people I worked with. The Public Diplomacy section, where I spent my time, was made up of some of the most dedicated, experienced, and sharp professionals I’ve ever met. Each person on the team brought a depth of knowledge and a distinct perspective while trying to maintain one of the world’s most important bilateral relationships. It was a reminder of the humanity that goes behind diplomacy and I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of that team.
This internship didn’t just complement my education — it transformed it. The theories I studied in class finally had context. The politics I followed became personal. And the idea of public service started to feel not just possible, but worthwhile.