By NCI
Kenneth Pilco, in his second year of Law, Public Policy, and Society, became the first MiraCosta student chosen for an internship with the State Department.
His research project focuses on global competition with China and how the State Department could support the civil service and foreign service by researching obstacles to employee recruitment and retention.
“The primary focus is to analyze the outlook that people have on our policies with China, to get a better understanding of where people lie on wanting to pursue a career with the State Department,” he said.
The PUENTE Program
Kenneth says he heard about the PUENTE program the week before classes started, when he got help on which courses to take to graduate. The program has also given him access to educational and professional development workshops.
As a MiraCosta student trustee and the president of PUENTE Club, he participated in a civic engagement project to boost voting and spearheaded a program to teach fourth graders about financial aid and other programs at MiraCosta College. “It was great seeing the fourth graders really get enthusiastic about school,” he said.
Passion, Community, Change
Kenneth says MiraCosta offers a sense of community. “There is a sense of belonging no matter who you are,” he said.
His family came to the United States from Ecuador. “As a student and as a kid, I didn’t realize that I had certain skills and what we call cultural capital,” he said, adding that he has learned to expect more of himself.
“I think the biggest thing was also finding something that I was passionate about. I personally believe that we have a duty to serve people, and just trying to find that community that you want to serve and you feel passionate about,” said Kenneth.
Kenneth hopes to work as a foreign service officer in the State Department, representing the Latino community. “I think the State Department really has work to do in terms of being more diverse and being more representative, and I want to be part of that change,” he said.
