RUMFORD — McKenzie Kaubrys has a whole new perspective on the world and a career goal now that she has completed a two-month internship for U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud.

Kaubrys, valedictorian for the Mountain Valley High School Class of 2010, and two years into a bachelor’s program at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., has always been open to new things around her.

But these past two months, working with numerous policies on a variety of topics, has shown her that a doctorate in psychology can open many doors.

“Veterans affairs (and post traumatic stress disorder), education, health care – policy briefs are written on all of these and more,” she said.

Now, she is taking a double major in English and psychology. Once she graduates in 2014, she knows the next step is four years working on the doctorate.

Serving with three other summer interns in Michaud’s Washington office, and meeting many others serving in the offices of senators and representatives was a fascinating experience, she said.

“It improved my confidence and opened my eyes to my future career. It helped me understand Maine issues, and made me so much more aware,” she said during her brief visit home with parents, John and Mary Kaubris and younger sister, Maddy, who will enter MVHS later this month. Her father is the postmaster for the Mexico Post Office and her mother teaches French at Dirigo High School.

In a couple of weeks, she’ll broaden her experience and perspectives even more.

She’s enrolled in a Georgetown semester program in Florence, Italy, where she’ll study the Italian language and government, English, and art history.

She’ll get to learn the culture by living with a host family for several months.

“I’m so excited,” she said.

As an intern for Michaud, she followed in the footsteps of her older sister, Molly, who had done the same during her four years at American University in Washington, D.C.

“Michaud was great. He was so down to earth and pleasant. During my last day there, he shook my hand and thanked me,” Kaubrys said. “He is so approachable.”

Her family has had other international experiences through the years. Last year, they were host parents to a Brazilian student who was a foreign exchange student at Dirigo High School. Her parents have also hosted a Colombian student who was part of the Up With People group, and hosted a French student when McKenzie was very young.

While she was a student at MVHS, McKenzie was president of the Student Council and a representative to Girls State.

She encourages all young people to spend a summer in Washington, D.C. or serve as an intern in a state office maintained by congressmen and senators.

“It gives you a good sense of government and also gives you experience and connections,” she said.

During the few days she has still at home, she’ll spend time at the family’s camp on Roxbury Pond and hike some of the area’s many trails.