My experience as a SikhLEAD intern was an amazing one. Working at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) allowed me to gain insight into legalities surrounding the workplace and how important is it that both employers and employees understand their rights; I was also able to learn about various forms of outreach efforts and the administrative responsibilities that accompany these efforts. Through participating in and attending the SikhLEAD program events, I was able to network with Sikh professionals and see firsthand the types of initiatives SALDEF is working on to overcome the many challenges facing the Sikh American community today. One key lesson that I learned this summer through both work-related and other activities is the importance of relationships. Although I have always been a person who values the concept of connecting with others, I never actually realized the true value that professional and personal relationships can hold. 
As an intern in the Office of Field Programs at the EEOC, one of my first assignments involved sorting through and partially compiling a list of outreach events that the agency had conducted in partnership with organizations that they consider to be “significant partners.” This term refers to organizations that represent and work with vulnerable or underserved communities. Establishing such a partnership allows the organization to educate the EEOC on the workplace challenges its community faces; it also allows the EEOC to work more directly with the particular community in informing them of their workplace rights. Over the course of my internship, I had to refer to this list often in my various assignments, and I quickly realized the importance of relationships between various organizations in the professional world. It is impossible for one agency to be aware of and solve every single problem, but through these partnerships, it can enhance its ability to reach out the communities who are facing problems and work more closely with them. The bonds and friendships I made with the other SikhLEAD interns were definitely one of the most significant factors that made the summer so enjoyable. It quickly became evident to me that interning through a program such as SADLEF’s SikhLEAD initiative enhanced my internship experience in D.C. considerably. The program gave me a group of fellow interns who I easily became close friends with. In a city that is bustling with individuals who seem to only be focused on getting to their destination as quickly as possible, this group of friends was very valuable to me. It gave me friends who I could spend time with in the evenings and who I could begin to work on my D.C. bucket list with. As I sit here trying to think of my favorite memory from the summer, I simply can’t pick one. It was getting dinner with the other interns after work, walking around the city, walking late at night to get Slurpees from the second closest 7-11, walking an hour in the pouring rain just to get to the Air and Space museum, biking to all of the monuments at night, staying up all night to see the sunrise from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, skipping down the sidewalk all the way to the Kennedy Center, and so many more. But the one common thread between all of these experiences is that they were with friends. And because of that, they will all be memories that I cherish forever. 
Based on my experience of interning at the EEOC this summer and being involved with SALDEF, I have taken away two important aspects that I believe will help further the Sikh American community. First, local sangats must branch out and connect with other sangats, both from within and outside their state. This can help create much needed dialogue within the Sikh community about issues and challenges that are too often ignored or falsely believed to be isolated. Second, the Sikh American community as a whole must branch out to the greater American community, whether it is through the platform of interfaith groups or organizations that deal with various human rights issues. Creating stronger inter-community relationships helps to create unity and oneness, which in turn allows for our fellow Americans to receive a stronger and clearer message about the Sikh faith. SikhLEAD has given me the opportunity to do just that – create connections with other Sikhs from across the country. Even just looking at the nine SikhLEAD interns – we all come from different places and backgrounds, yet this summer, we were able to develop friendships and a connection rooted in our desire to further the Sikh community and promote Sikh visibility in the political sphere. The concepts I have learned through my experiences this summer and through the many conversations with my friends encourage me and motivate me to keep working hard and continue paving a path for those to come. –Guneet Kaur Chawla
