The Borlaug Blog

There have been many people in my college career that have impacted my life, but I never imagined that Dr. Norman Borlaug would be one of them.

I started my internship with The World Food Prize Foundation during my junior year of college at Iowa State University, and my life has been different ever since. Due to Dr. Borlaug’s revolutionary work to prevent hunger, famine and misery around the world -- and his creation of the World Food Prize -- I and dozens of other interns have had the opportunity to tell his story and work with others that continue his legacy.  

While I wasn’t able to be in the field advancing efforts in agriculture or water supplies around the world, I got to impact the lives of many in a different way. As a George Washington Carver Public Relations Intern, I had the opportunity to continue Norm’s story and tell the stories of the many Laureates that have continued his work and created new advances for millions around the world.

To start, I can remember the day that I interviewed for the position. Snow covered the steps to the Hall of Laureates and there was a fierce Iowa chill to the air. Walking inside I was immediately taken aback by the beauty and culture instilled in the design of the Rotunda, and the feeling that many great leaders and influencers had walked the same floors that I was walking. Upon leaving my interview, I knew that if I received this internship, I would be a vital part in telling Dr. Borlaug’s and the World Food Prize’s story.

Fast-forward to day one of my internship, and I was diving head-first into tasks that made me feel worthwhile to the organization and my team. I was tasked with many responsibilities such as updating media lists for local, national and international news; maintaining internal news archives surrounding topics like Dr. Borlaug, Laureates, and Ambassador Quinn; composing and editing press releases for events like the Iowa Youth Institute, the 2017 Laureate Announcement and Dr. Borlaug’s Birthday Event; and even helping kick off the Borlaug Blog.

Though I was only an intern, I felt and believed that my work was valued. There were some days where I wasn’t sure that I was capable of a task or project, but my internship coordinator, Nicole Barreca, was confident in me even when I wasn’t confident in myself. Seeing an article that was published in the news from a press release that I helped write, speaking on the phone with a reporter from another country or editing a blog from a past Laureate, I soon realized what valuable skills I was learning and my confidence grew.

The pivotal moment in my internship was the day that I was able to partake in a conference call with the 2017 Laureate, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, prior to the announcement. Hearing first-hand how Dr. Borlaug impacted Dr. Adesina’s life and the work that Dr. Adesina had done for others, I truly understood the capacity that Dr. Borlaug and all past Laureates had in bettering the well-being of millions. I remember that day feeling like the World Food Prize was more than just an internship; it was a doorway to improve the quality of life for so many people – and I was getting to tell its story through my writing.

Interning at the World Food Prize was just the beginning of my communications career, and I’m beyond grateful for the opportunities that I had to continue Dr. Borlaug’s story, stories of the Laureates and stories of young students who are aspiring to be the next “Norm.” I know that without Dr. Norman Borlaug and without my time at the World Food Prize, I would not be where I am today. If I could offer one piece of advice for current and future World Food Prize interns, it would be this:

Your work makes a difference.