This is the second part of a series examining student jobs and the economics of college life.

Most students in their fifth year at the University of Wisconsin might consider graduation to be number one on their list of priorities. But, for one UW student, a semester in Wausau, Wis., and not in the classrooms in Madison, has become not only a life-changing experience but a worthwhile one, too.

Sara Kanawati took the fall 2004 semester off to intern for the Wisconsin Victory ’04 campaign in Wausau.

Kanawati is the field organizer for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, an organization controlling several offices around the state — including Madison, Beloit and Waukesha.

As a senior majoring in sociology, Kanawati said taking a semester off to work at an internship is not like taking a semester off from school.

“Internships are real-life experiences,” Kanawati said.

The long hours spent at the office range everyday from 8 a.m. to 11 or 12 at night, but the time flies by, according to Kanawati.

“Every single minute is valuable leading up the election. But it’s worth it in the end, especially if you’re working for something you believe so strongly in,” Kanawati said. “The work is both overwhelming and intense.”

Overwhelming and intense work is what Kananwati deals with day in and day out as the field organizer for the campaign.

She directs and organizes campaign events by making numerous phone calls between volunteers and visitors. As the field organizer, she also works with community outreach and follows-ups.

Wisconsin Victory ’04 helps promote efforts by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Although not authorized or paid for by the Kerry/Edwards campaign, their goal is to get the Democratic nominee elected.

The Wisconsin Victory ’04 group is like the point person for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, according to Kanawati.

But the work of political campaigns is not limited to paid interns like Kanawati — it is also critical for volunteers to get involved in any election battle.

Chairs on both the UW College Republicans and College Democrats agreed.

“Volunteers are absolutely crucial to any political campaign,” College Democrats Chair Liz Sanger said. “We take all of the volunteers we can get because they do so much in taking care of outreach.”

Volunteers and interns like Kanawati contribute a large majority of work to the campaign of the candidate they are attempting to get elected.

College Republican Chair Nicole Marklein agreed volunteers are vital to their efforts.

“Our members serve as volunteers too,” Marklein said. “Here on campus and in Madison, Wisconsin really counts on volunteers for support.”

College Democrats works with various organizations like Wisconsin Victory ’04 and the Kerry/Edwards campaign, where a lot of the same volunteers work.

Kanawati worked for the Kerry/Edwards campaign in Madison last May. She applied for the Wisconsin Victory ’04 internship and received the full-time position and took the leap into a semester in Wausau.

“Wausau has been great, and my family does call at all random times of the day because they know I’m so busy,” Kanawati said.

The work Kanawati is doing is similar to UW political groups.

According to Marklein, volunteers and members of College Republicans chalk sidewalks, hold signs and help out student offices to get the word out about the campaign they support.

Sanger said she couldn’t agree more.

“We coordinate events around campus and we’ve had a hand in the Kerry/Edwards rally, as well as the Feingold rally,” Sanger said.

According to Sanger, some national College Democrat volunteers may come to Madison as it gets closer to the election to help out in Wisconsin because of its battleground state status. They will help in the trenches of the election battle along with local volunteers, remain active through the Madison College Democrat chapter, the Wisconsin College Democrats chapter and beyond.

In the political world and especially during an election year, there is a shuffling around of volunteers between various campaign programs and internships, according to Sanger.

Kanawati knows all about the shuffling around. She still has an apartment in Madison, but lives with a local family in Wausau. Her stay-in family boards staff members like her who work on the campaign.

“Politics affects everything we do in life,” Kanawati said. “I recommend for students to get involved in something they believe in because this experience has been incredibly worthwhile and has made a huge impact on my life.”

The long hours of unpaid work take their toll on Kanawati, but she is encouraged by her staff to take time off for herself and get out of the office.

Support from not only her staff, but her family keeps her work going.

Kanawati said she was interested in politics from an early age, encouraged by her family, and now, after working an internship, she could not imagine not being involved.

“I think I was always interested in politics — I can’t help but be involved,” Kanawati said.

When she was in Madison, Kanawati was an active member of her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. She helped direct last year’s Humorology performance and was the co-chair for a Philanthropy project in AXO.

As for working in the heart of northern Wisconsin following the Nov. 2 elections, Kanawati said she will end her internship in Wausau.

“I’ll clean up the office and come back to Madison,” Kanawati said. “I’ll be doing a lot of relaxing and catching up with my roommates and family.”