When it comes to a summer job, Oluwabukola Harrison Idowu had the opportunity of a lifetime.

Idowu, a University of Wisconsin-Parkside graduate student, served as a summer intern at the United Nations. Idowu, from Nigeria, came to southeastern Wisconsin in the spring of 2002 to start undergraduate studies.

He met and worked with Professor Lillian Trager, who died in November 2006, in Nigeria. Trager told him about Parkside and was instrumental in his coming to southeastern Wisconsin to attend college.

Idowu graduated in the spring of 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies and certificates in conflict analysis and resolution, and community-based learning. He earned one of the Outstanding Graduate Awards. After a short time in Nigeria he returned to the area last fall and hopes to complete his Masters of Business Administration degree next fall.

Recently, Idowu spoke with The Journal Times about his internship.

How did you become an intern at the United Nations?

I have always been interested in development/political studies, which explains my major. My dream job would be working with the UN preferably the funds program like UNICEF or United Nations Development Programme so I can be in the field and not sitting in the Secretariat. Regularly, I check the UN's Web site to see what is happening and all that. And one day last year I did and went on to the intern page and looked at what you need to be an intern there. I said to myself, "I have all these and much more." I applied based on that and forgot about it. Then June this year, I got a call from a legal officer in the Office of the Ombudsman at the UN informing me that I had been selected to intern there.

He told me to let him know as soon as possible if I could make it due to the fact that it was unpaid, I had to look for accommodation, and have spending money. Of course I thought it was a scam or something but I checked the number he gave me and his name and found out it was true. I was interested of course but had to worry about the financial implications. Everyone I spoke to about it said you have to do it even though some people tried to discourage me based on that too. I ran to Lenny Klaver who has always been helpful and he bailed me out again. He was the president of the Rotary Club of Kenosha West then and he spoke to his club members and they gave me some money. Also the chancellor, dean of students, and some individuals at Parkside did help me out. To them I am very grateful.

What did you do during your internship?

I worked in the Office of the Ombudsman and had to sign a confidentiality agreement my first day so I really can't talk much about that. However, I got first hand experience in human resources management, too. Also, helped with the hiring process for an opening. I helped with the annual report for the Secretary General, compiled/sorted cases that came to the office and didn't have to go to the Joint Appeal Board.

Does it pertain to your future career?

Yes, in some ways. Conflict resolution/mediation is another field I am interested in. My dream job would be working with one of the funds program like Unicef or UNDP. In the area of Development and or Conflict Mediation. So it was in line with what I hope to be doing.

What did you enjoy most about New York and the UN?

Just to be at the UN as an intern and share ideas with other interns from all over the world is beyond me at times. I met and did fun things with my friends from Canada, Denmark, Israel, Australia, Italy, Ghana, Nigeria, and Britain. I also enjoyed walking endlessly around and seeing all the diverse faces wondering what was going on in their minds. I enjoyed racing others across the street when the light turned green and the subway.

Did your internship change your view of the world?

Not at all. My view of the world is still the same. We all are part of the larger whole. Unfortunately, some people don't see it like that, as such, they inflict pains on others directly or indirectly. I very much believe the UN should be reconstituted and better placed for the 21st century. The time spent arguing and debating could be reduced and decisions made in time to save lives. The politicking is a complete thing entirely. God help us!