LONGMEADOW – For Sydney Levin-Epstein one internship with a U.S. senator ultimately led her to serve another internship with a former president of Israel.

The Longmeadow native, who is entering her senior year at George Washington University in Washington D.C., explained to Reminder Publications her time interning in the office of Sen. Edward Markey “piqued my interest in the Middle East” and when she learned of a possible internship at the Peres Center for Peace, she decided to apply.

Noble Peace Laureate and former Israeli President Shimon Peres founded the Peres Center for Peace in 1996. According to its website, “We are a non-profit, non-political, non-governmental organization focused on promoting lasting peace and advancement in the Middle East by fostering tolerance, economic & technological development, innovation, cooperation & well-being, all in the spirit of President Peres’ vision.”

The key to landing the internship, Levin-Epstein said was “persistence.” She recalled writing to apply for the internship to “any and all emails addresses I could find.”

She added, “I’m a firm believer in making ever moment count.”

She arrived in Israel the first week of June and recently returned. The internship in the public relations department of the Peace Center was unpaid, so to prepare for it she had been working three part time jobs.

She also was able to use scholarship funds, part of which came from her being named Miss Massachusetts Outstanding Teen, a scholarship program sponsored by The Miss America organization.

“It was not a vacation for me,” she said. “I went in with the intention of what I could learn and what I could contribute.”

Levin-Epstein added, “I went there not quite sure what to expect.”

Writing on the Peace Center’s blog, Levin-Epstein said, “I was responsible for coordinating the international public relations and media for the department. It is because of the inspirational and empowering leadership that I feel prepared to conquer the next chapter of my professional life. There were times when the language barrier confused me, yet nothing stopped me from figuring it out and getting the job done. From drafting press releases to communicating with editors and reporters from major news outlets to executing large-scale events, dull moments simply do not exist at the Peres Center for Peace. The fast paced environment provided me with hands on experience in maintaining the public image for someone with a high profile like President Shimon Peres, as well as a non-governmental organization.”

She called the Center “an incredible place” and that it was “humbling” to spend time with Peres.

She said that Peres at age 93 is on Snapchat. “You can be 93 and be still in tune,” she said.

She said she learned much about the conflict and political situation in the Middle East and noted being pro-Israel doesn’t automatically means a person is anti-Palestinian.

“The problem with many misconceptions is how we’re informed about them,” she said. “It’s never black and white. It’s as grey as it could get.”

She added that people “need a fully informed conversation.”

Hearing news from home also concerned her and she wondered about Americans ability to be analytical about issues.

 She said she was very thankful to have the opportunity to intern at the Peres center and said, “I left Israel with the fullest heart I ever had.”

She is not sure about her life after graduation, but she said she has been “looking to where my heart wants to be” and added, “I’ve been talking with as many people as I can. I want to get back to Massachusetts.”