Interview with an Intern (CGB is recruiting more interns!)
Joe Grochmal, Harvard-Radcliffe ‘19 and former CGB Intern
Interns have played a vital role in Crimson Goes Blue’s development. Our interns have shared how well the substantive work has aligned with their personal missions.
As we grow and prepare for the midterms, we are seeking to engage additional interns who want to put their interest in political organizing and communications to work. Both college students and recent college graduates are encouraged to apply now for spring and summer internships.
Here is one intern’s story:
Tilak Bhatnagar interned for Crimson Goes Blue between college and his current posting as a cyber security officer in training for the US Airforce.
Being the first in his family to be born in America, Tilak felt a sense of duty to give back to it, for everything it has given him and his family. His father immigrated from India to America with just a few hundred dollars and a suitcase in the early 1990s. He was able to take a shot at building the American dream for his family. For Tilak, getting into the worlds of politics and public service is all about giving back. It’s what brought him to Crimson Goes Blue in his public service journey and spurred him to become the first in his family to serve in the military.
After high school, Tilak started college at Rutgers University and joined the military by signing up for ROTC (the Reserve Officer Training Corps). “Joining the military was also about giving back in one of the highest forms possible. More personally, I joined because I wanted to prove to myself that I could meet the challenge.”
In May 2021, he graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science, and was commissioned as a Cyber Officer in the US Air Force. When he learned about Crimson Goes Blue, he was interested in the model of encouraging alumni activism. He also knew that he’d learn a lot from working alongside driven and talented Harvard alumni.
As an intern, Tilak worked on projects ranging from designing business cards to overhauling the member database. He was quick to praise the start-up feel and the “all-hands-on-deck” energy of Crimson Goes Blue. His attention to detail and ability to quickly learn new systems allowed him to create a live dashboard for Crimson Goes Blue leadership with aggregate insights about members.
On February 1, Tilak’s time with Crimson Goes Blue ended as he entered active duty with the US Air Force. Leaving Crimson Goes Blue felt bittersweet as “I felt that I had found my rhythm and place on the Crimson Goes Blue Team. It felt like I was leaving a family.” But he’s also excited to start the next chapter in his public service journey.
Everyone at Crimson Goes Blue thanks Tilak for his wonderful contributions, and we wish him the very best in the US Air Force!
Note: Any reference to the US military and or the US Air Force, and or appearance in military uniform, do not constitute any endorsement by either the US military and or the US Air Force. The views and opinions presented in this article are solely the author’s and the subject’s, and in no way shape or form endorsed by the US military and or the US Air Force. The US military and the US Air Force maintain strict policies to be non-partisan and avoid perceptions of partisan bias.
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