Millerton’s Lizett Pajuelo is an intern at The Journal

LAKEVILLE —  My name is Lizett Pajuelo and I am 25 years old. I joined The Lake-ville Journal as a post-graduate intern on Oct. 7.

A 16-year-resident of Millerton, I hail from Lima, Peru, and completed a Bachelor of Arts in 2012 at Northeastern University (in Boston) in International Affairs and Political Science. 

As a naturally inquisitive individual, I began as an international affairs and pre-med student, and decided to change my major after I visited the Dominican Republic for an international volunteer project I helped plan for Distributing Resources to Youth through Volunteer Efforts (DRYVE), a student organization (not related to my university) dedicated to promoting volunteerism to underdeveloped communities by fellow students. 

Since then, my interest and commitment to international politics and grassroots organizations have deepened.

I have always enjoyed biology, therefore I tend to compare things to the human body to better understand the function of systems. 

When I made the decision that I would not continue with pre-med, switching to political science, I remember thinking to myself, “With so many issues plaguing communities and the world, politicians are responsible for ‘curing’ these problems. They can be the doctors of society. They have so much power, which they can and should use for good to serve their people.”

Throughout school, my favorite assignments were essays and research papers, as I found it easier to express knowledge through writing. Going back to those memories is what inspired me to pursue an internship in journalism. 

I enjoy meeting new people and educating others. I hope to continue with The Lakeville Journal as a freelance writer after my internship, and to continue to make my way into the world of news and experience different media sources to educate others.

My favorite hobby is traveling and exploring the world. That is what led me to choose international affairs for my major. I have a rooted interest in Latin America and developing regions. Over the years, due to my international volunteering experience in college, I grew a particular interest in community development with a focus on youth involvement, leading me to volunteer at international NGOs focused on community development such as Supporting Kids in Peru (SKIP). 

I also love learning about history and cultures, all which tie up very well with my interest in travel.

As a curious individual, I am  often attracted to unusual events. When student riots to advocate for a better education system broke out in Chile during my summer study abroad program, I rushed to join the crowds and witness the event. When political riots broke out in Venezuela, I regretted that I couldn’t be there to witness what was happening. 

As an intern at The Lakeville Journal, I have already written articles, taken photos and worked on page layouts. I would like to continue to write articles covering nonprofit organizations amd politics, do interviews and continue to learn about the world of media. I am also looking forward to helping cover the municipal elections on Nov. 3.