Scarlet Service Stories: Quincy Wright
Quincy Wright, World Affairs Council of Philadelphia
Like many Scarlet Service interns, Quincy Wright is a dedicated student who was determined to make the most of his civil service experience with the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia.
But unlike most of his peers, the Rutgers-Camden senior has additional motivation to seize this moment: he is a father and a fiancé.
“Scarlet Service not only expanded my network and gave me better opportunities to make connections, it also gives me a chance to tell my son about these experiences when I’m well into my career,” said Wright, 25, who plans to attend law school after graduating in May with an English degree and minor in philosophy.
A former student athlete who struggled with feeling directionless during COVID-19 lockdowns, Wright said he arrived at Rutgers-Camden as a transfer student after taking time off during the pandemic with clear career goals after the pandemic. Since then, he has capitalized on every opportunity that’s come his way, including Scarlet Service.
“On the way to class one day, I stopped to see a friend who was in last year’s cohort,” he said. “I had an unpaid internship with the District Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia last year. I was searching for a way to get paid for it this year. He said, ‘Why don’t you apply to Scarlet Service instead?”
He spent 15 hours a week from May to August as a professional exchange intern with the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, working to bolster the city’s presence on the international stage.
“I want to study law as a career,” he said. “I thought this would be a great opportunity not only to learn more about public service, but to build my network and learn about international exchanges.”
His role ran the gamut: preparing bios and itineraries for delegates from around the world, connecting them with Philadelphia nonprofits and businesses, and dissecting meeting notes with legal counsel to determine whether partnerships could be fruitful for the city.
“These experiences are what’s going to stick with me into my career,” said Wright, who lives in Glassboro with his fiancée and their 1-year-old son. “I really believe it’s the journey, not the destination. These are the foundational moments that will help me forge my future.”