P.O.V.

 I went to lunch today with a previous undergradate student trustee at Ohio State who now works in Washington (small world!). As a substitute for the regular DC lunch at Old Ebbitt, we decided to be a little more trendy and go to the P.O.V. Rooftop Terrace atop the W hotel on F Street. It was the perfect last lunch, for it offered some great views of the Mall and allowed me to take in the city in which I've lived for the past 10 weeks. From my spot at the table, this is what I saw:

How cool, right?



It was awesome to see the Washington Monument, Lincoln, WWII memorial, the White House, Treasury, etc. standing in such a different light. Usually I'm on the ground, looking up; today I got to see things from a little bit of a different perspective. I know a hotel restaurant usually doesn't make the top of the list of things to see in a city, but everyone really should check it out if they have a chance.

As Shannon said, we've had to real squeeze stuff into our schedules on our last week in DC. I've been fitting some in last-minute meetings, lunches, dinners this week...and it's given me the opportunity to check out a handful of pretty cool places in the city. As much as I've seen, though, I'm sure there's quadruple that number of things I haven't seen or places I haven't been. Ah, well -- I guess to put a positive spin on it, that means I'll just have to come back to Washington again!

Final Days

As my days here in DC are coming to a fast close I am reflecting on what a terrific experience and life changing ten weeks this has been. It has been life changing because I was extremely nervous to come to DC, to live in a new city, and be without my all familiar Columbus and OSU. To be brief, I left for Colorado State University my freshman year of college, thinking that it would be all that I wanted. Come to find out I was anything but satisfied with the experience and home sick beyond belief. DC was a second chance to spread my wings and I have done just that. My time in DC has not only left me ready to experience bigger things than OSU, but in new places as well, and I will welcome these new adventures now with open arms.

I am leaving this city with much more than I assumed I would. First, I have been successful in the work place. I have learned a lot about governmental affairs and different aspects of a petroleum business that unfortunately most do not know about. My knowledge is so much greater and it has left me asking more questions, and wanting to know more about different industries and businesses. I have so much enjoyed my time at work. Second, I am leaving with more knowledge of city life, our country, and history just from living and physically being here in DC. Third, I am leaving with friendships I did not expect. They are friendships that I am sure will go beyond the Congressional and the classroom. Fourth and lastly, my time in DC is allowing me to leave with much more confidence than a short ten weeks ago. I am now not only a confident student, but a more well rounded young adult who is fully ready for her final year as an undergrad at OSU and then shortly after, someone who will take on the working world.

I am truly thankful for my time here and am so glad to have taken the chance and done it. I am sure these ten weeks will be some of my fondest memories of college life. Thank you to all who have taken part in my experience here.

Thanks and of course, O-H!

-Shannon Ryan

A Rambling Goodbye

As I walked past the Capitol Building for the last time on my way to work this morning I couldn’t help, but remember my first day as an intern on the Hill. It was a sunny day much like this one, but wasn’t nearly as hot and humid as this morning was. As I walked in front of the Capitol that day I must admit that I was nervous and unaware of what this experience had in store for me. Even though I was nervous I was still excited about the opportunity to intern in a Congressional office knowing that it was an experience, good or bad, that would forever stay with me.

Nearly 10 weeks later my walk this morning wasn’t much different than my first walk to work. I took the same route, I was still excited to be going to work to finish this experience, and the Capitol Building was just as impressive as it was the first time I saw it. Even though my walk wasn’t much different this morning I realized that I had changed in many ways. I noticed that as I was walking I was creating a list in my head of the tasks that I didn’t finish the day before; I knew what the House would be voting on today and from that had an idea of what constituent phone calls we would be receiving; and I was confident that today would be just as good of an experience as every day that preceded it. 

I also realized on my walk this morning that I wasn’t just leaving with a great experience on the hill, but also with many friendships. I was lucky enough to have a great group of Glenn Fellows with me this quarter, each of whom I count as a great friend. I have also made a few good friends here on the hill that I can continue to stay in contact with after I make the trip back to Ohio. Finally, I hope I have made two friends in Dr. Kolson and Mike, both of whom this experience would not have been the same without. 

This experience has been all I could have asked for and more. I will never forget the time I had here as part of the WAIP program and the friendships I have made. Thank you to everyone who contributed to my experience, you have no idea how much I appreciated it.    

-Dave C.

Thank You

This probably doesn't come as a surprise, but a huge round of thank you's are in order.  First, thank you to Dr. Kolson.  Dr. Kolson works tirelessly to provide an atmosphere here in DC that is familiar to Glenn School Fellows.  He has so much going on, yet he still works hard to give us the best experience possible while here in DC.  Next, thank you to Mike McCandlish.  Mike is in charge of setting up all internships and granting us access to experiences that we would never get to have without an outstanding program like WAIP.  He was the second vital part in allowing us to have a great experience in Washington.  Finally, a huge thank you to the Glenn School for this opportuinty.  I remember my interview like it was yesterday.  I remember thinking about how awesome it would be to intern in DC.  For this opportunity, I have to thank the Glenn School and everyone who has supported it throughout the years.  It takes a special program to be able to do things like this, and provide lifelong memories for students.  I will be forever grateful for the Glenn School and for the experience they provided for us.  As I sit at my desk on my last day of work, I leave the reader with a great quote from Dr. Kolson himself:
"Party on, Garth!"
Thanks for reading all of our posts and God bless!
-Drew Calabro

A huge WAIP thank you

As I walked to work this morning, two women stopped me and asked me directions to a hotel. I said, "That's on 2nd Street NW, right? Just ahead that way and turn right". They thanked me and went on their way. I watched the women walk towards their destination, and in that moment that I realized how familiar and comfortable I have become in Washington over the past 10 weeks. It's funny how quickly you can become accustomed to a new way of life in a new, exciting city. I have my routine; I know my schedule; I understand how to get around.

I continued my walk to work, passing the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress...and I asked myself how many times I took that walk for granted. When I first arrived in Washington in March, I swore up and down that I would never grow tired, never stop appreciating the sites and sounds that surround me. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I followed through on that promise. As I felt my familiarity with the city grow over the quarter, so too did my complacency. How many times did I walk past a landmark and not pay attention to it? How many museums, tours, sites did I not visit? Had I truly spent my time wisely here? Although we have done a lot of cool things this spring, I feel as if there is still so much left to do in Washington - which is one of the many reasons I have come to adore this place. There is never a shortage of things to do, see, experience.

The Washington Academic Internship Program has been extraordinary, and I would recommend the program to anyone at Ohio State. I am so grateful to everyone involved -- the John Glenn school, Chris Adams, Dr. Kolson, Mike McCandlish, the Federal Reserve (my internship), and so many others that make WAIP possible. These past ten weeks have taught me so much about so much, and I head back to Ohio knowing more about the world, the nation, the city, and myself. I certainly have mixed feelings about leaving. While I am excited to see my friends on campus and my family back home, at the same time I am utterly saddened that I will no longer be living in DC. If I could offer one piece of advice to future fellows, it's this: do not let the time go by. While it will help that subsequent classes will have 15 weeks as opposed to 10 (yay semester conversion!), I think temptation will still exist to lose the sense of curiosity that fills us all when we first come to DC. Don't lose that interest in the city, and take advantage of every opportunity to experience our nation's capital. It makes the WAIP program that much more rewarding!

Saluting Our Troops

This weekend, my roommate and I had the opportunity to experience some of the best Memorial Day festivities that our nation has to offer.  Living in the epicenter of American memorials and monuments, there was no shortage of activities to be a part of this past weekend.  Through some careful planning, we were able to see about five different sites that featured Memorial Day events this weekend.

The sightseeing began with a trip to Arlington National Cemetery.  A few of us had made the trip over earlier in the quarter, but it was a very different experience this past weekend.  Each of the over 250,000 gravestones and memorials had American flags placed in front of them which, with the sun shining brightly, made for some great pictures.  The visit also gave me the chance to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by American servicemen and women.  The cemetery gives a striking visual for the number of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

On Sunday evening, we made our way to the U.S. Capitol’s west lawn to watch the National Memorial Day Concert.  The event was being hosted by Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise featuring the National Symphony Orchestra with guests such as Colin Powell, Daughtry, and Trace Adkins.  We arrived early and had good seats in perfect line with the center of the stage.  After a two and a half hour wait for the start of the show, we were able to see a moving tribute to a soldier’s widow, performances by the symphony, and a brief speech by Colin Powell.  Only about thirty-five minutes in, however, the U.S. Capitol police took the microphone saying the concert was being cancelled with severe storms moving into the Washington area.

On Monday morning we woke up bright and early to be at the World War II Memorial for a 9am wreath-laying ceremony.  Unfortunately, the 9am wreath-laying ceremony had become an 8:30am wreath-laying and most guests were leaving as we arrived.   Undeterred, we headed back east to witness a similar ceremony at the Navy Memorial, an impressive tribute to naval forces past, present, and future.


From the Navy Memorial, we made our way to the main event of the day, a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  Once again it required a pass through extensive security and a two hour wait under a scorching sun.  After remarks by Leon Panetta, Ken Salazar and others, President Barack Obama took the stage.  He welcomed home the Vietnam veterans saying that they had not received a proper reception upon their return from war almost fifty years ago.  The theme of thanking those whom America had disregarded during the Vietnam era continued through his speech.  Although only a speck in the distance, it was a thrill to be able to witness Obama’s speech in person.  The event concluded our busy weekend of sightseeing leaving me with profound respect for those who have served and are serving our nation, and the worst sunburn I have had in many years.

- Eric Nash

Final Week in DC

One of the greatest features of Washington DC is that this majestic city has never forgotten how it came to be since its founding in 1791.  The city and its entire population actively remember the brave men and women whose service has helped protect America and the United States government.  Monuments are constantly being built in honor of our fallen soldiers and the National Park Service makes sure to maintain these memorials so that everyone, Washingtonians and tourists alike, can always remember how America was built.  That is why Memorial Day Weekend in Washington DC was the best possible end to our time here in Washington and reminded me yet again how lucky I was to spend a full quarter in our nation’s capital.

 

Memorial Day Weekend events filled up Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and it was not an easy task to attend most of them with sweltering heat gripping the city and long walks between each memorial location.  However, it was well worth my time and effort to make my way back up to Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday and see the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for a second time.  The fact that 220,000 American flags were placed in front of every tombstone in the cemetery was completely overwhelming and impressive to me and it was the least that could be done for the soldiers who gave their lives for their country.  The Memorial Day concert on the West Capitol lawn that night only continued to instill patriotism in me and thousands of others as we listened to emotional stories of soldiers who have left us forever.

Getting to listen to President Obama and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta at the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial was inspiring for me.  In an age where politics dominates the news cycles and all you can listen to is the he said/she said bickering of partisanship, listening to some of our nation’s leaders put politics aside for even twenty minutes and honor American heroes who truly deserve respect was refreshing for me.  Even though speaking about our heroes is one of the smallest things that can be done for these brave men and women, making sure that their sacrifice is not forgotten is the most important thing every single day of the year, not just Memorial Day.  As a city that always keeps this sacrifice alive and well, DC shone this Memorial Day Weekend 2012 and I was so incredibly fortunate to experience it for myself.

My time spent in Washington these past ten weeks has taught me so many important life lessons that I will always keep close to my heart.  I was taught the importance of staying connected with my family.  Having missed my younger brother’s graduation this past weekend, I’ve realized that as I move into the real world, I will not always be able to attend significant events in the lives of my younger siblings and parents but I can let them know how important they are to me.  I’ve learned the importance of friendship and connections and how my work life won’t be half as significant without the support of amazing friends and the friendships you make with co-workers and associates.  I’ve also learned how much I am capable of.  I turned twenty on my first day of work at a real job in our nation’s capital, and I’ve thrived off of my experiences here as I’ve lived a life that many people can only dream of having.  I can do anything I set my mind to and I’d consider myself so lucky if I ended up back in Washington one day.  I wouldn’t have been able to quickly learn any of these important lessons without the help of the Washington Academic Internship Program under the guidance of Dr. Kolson and the city of Washington DC itself, and I hope that other Glenn Fellows, past, present, and future, are fortunate enough to take away these lessons from WAIP too.  

-- Alex Polivka

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Yesterday afternoon, President Obama awarded thirteen individuals with the 2012 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor one can receive. Thankfully, Dr. Kolson emailed us the link to the live feed of the ceremony just in time so we were able to watch it. I had a few thoughts as I watched that brief but moving segment:

1. What a diverse and accomplished group of individuals. Those being recognized yesterday have done some remarkable things in their lives and continue to serve as inspirations for others.  President Obama only spoke briefly about each recipient, but I'm certain that he could have talked about each person's accomplishments and contributions to society for hours. Hearing their stories made me want to go out and create change. They have the innate calling to serve and to enrich the lives of others while inspiring the public to do the same.

2. While the honorees are some of the most successful people in the world, their humility spoke volumes to me. I remember a few months ago, I attended an event in the Ohio Union celebrating John Glenn, during which John and Annie were interviewed by an Ohio State student. At some point during the interview, I distinctly remember John Glenn saying that he didn't view himself as a hero (which of course he is!). Here is a man who has done so much for our university, our state, our country; who, as the President said, "has given Americans limitless dreams"; who has sparked passion for human exploration; and yet does not see himself as heroic.

3. During the live feed, I thought to myself, "How cool is it that this is taking place literally one block away!" The thought that this is where it all takes place, where laws are passed, leaders are chosen, and the country is run, is thrilling to me. I love living in DC and have had such an incredible experience these past ten weeks. I just know that I will be back here someday. 

Time Away

Academic advisers at Ohio State always emphasize that internship or study abroad experiences will enhance my learning and collegiate experience, but I didn't buy into that too much.  I didn't think that it would enhance much at all, being at THE greatest college in the country.  Regardless of this thought, I have always wanted to intern in Washington D.C.  I can imagine that all the other Glenn Fellows feel the same as well.  I have always known that I would love my experience living in this city as well.  What I didn't know was that I would make some of my best friends here.  These last 10 weeks have been a whirlwind of papers, readings, study tours, meetings, networking, and hard work.  They have also provided me with some of the most memorable experiences of my life.

As I sit back and reflect on these 10 weeks, some great memories come to mind.  I knew our group would be special when, on the first night here, we all decided to get pizza and walk the long trek of sightseeing from the Capitol to the Lincoln...and back.  We all were so open, friendly, and full of excitement about our opportunity that we were granted.  I can remember the walks to Eastern Market and the always delicious free salsa samples. I can remember our Easter Sunday dinner that we all cooked and ate together, since we were away from our families.  I can remember the Congressional Breakfast and singing Carmen Ohio with Archie Griffin.  I can remember late nights listening to country and eating BBQ.  I can remember our trip to the beach and the 6 hour drive back.  I can and will remember every moment that our group spent together as a unit, having fun and enjoying the city.

Aside from the great work experience on The Hill, I take home with me something more valuable: close friends who have my back in any event.  We have all seen each other's triumphs and failures, our hopes and dreams, and through it all, we have supported one another.  These last few days I will not be cherishing the work that I am doing, but the opportunity to spend time with genuine and real people with the best character I have ever seen.  I have loved every moment of my Washington experience.  I have loved every moment that we have shared as a group.  I will miss my time walking the busy marble corridors on The Hill, but I will miss more the time spent with great people.

-Drew Calabro

 

Last Minute Trips

What else can I squeeze in to this trip? That is what I find myself asking during this final week in Washington, DC. After a nice long weekend at the beach, where sun came in anything but short supply, I returned home to my Congressional apartment trying to decide what else I needed to do and squeeze into my final days in the city.


At work I can expect that there will be plenty of last minute work and preparation for my leaving and that transition, while at home in the apartment I imagine there will be packing and hurried cleaning between Evann and myself. The events outside of those are what will exhaust me the most, but will be well worth it. Many times this quarter I have seen monuments, restaurants, museums, and people, but no matter how hard you try, getting it all in is impossible. My goal this week: get in the last must dos. On the list are Arlington National Cemetery, Georgetown Harbor, Karaoke at Hill Country BBQ, and maybe another museum visit.

I can imagine that the end of the week the exhaustion will be on my face and under my eyes, but all of that will be well worth it when I leave the city and will have done most of what I had planned, and a lot that I had not. Washington, DC holds more treasures and sites than anyone can fit into one trip, and in my experience, one quarter. All are well worth seeing and tiring yourself over. I welcome the rush of last minute events this week to try and suck up that last bit of DC life.

-Shannon Ryan

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Last weekend, I decided to go to Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
(click me!). I’ve been exploring different churches in the Capitol Hill area for the past 7 weeks, but it was fine time that I took advantage of being in Washington DC and go to some truly remarkable places. After a fairly long Metro ride (I hate when they do construction on the Metro on weekends!), I finally got off near the Catholic University of America, which abuts the Basilica.

I’m glad I left with plenty of time to spare, because it left me with a few minutes to explore the largest Catholic church in the United States. It is quite a sight to behold, even on the outside, and I took a few minutes before entering to just admire the façade of the Basilica. I climbed the long staircase up to the main entrance, opened the heavy wooden door, and was absolutely taken away by the beauty of the superstructure. I walked past the rows of pews and colossal Roman columns rising up to the high ceilings and selected a seat close to the altar of the church. I was completely enthralled with the intricate hand-painted mosaics on the walls depicting traditional Catholic images and Latin phrases. Even sitting there, I was filled with wonder, reverence, and respect.

And then the choir began to sing. I honestly cannot describe the feeling that overcame me. Their sound filled the entire upper church, and it was so incredibly beautiful that it brought tears to my eyes. In fact, the entire Mass was like that, and I left with a feeling of such peace and purity. The remained of the day, I still felt the effects of the experience, and it was the perfect way to start my week. I highly recommend that everyone visit the Basilica. Even if one isn’t Catholic, he or she can still appreciate the splendor.

If you'd like to see some photographs of various mosaics of the upper church, click here. There are some amazing shots in the collection.


Posted by Evann

Beach!!

This past weekend myself and some other Glenn fellows (Dave, Shannon, Drew, Evann) took a long weekend and drove out to Ocean City, MD. It may seem a little silly to be leaving D.C. during the Memorial Day celebrations, but we were all craving a beach weekend where we would just relax and mellow out. We got to our hotel around 2 on Saturday and went down to the beach as soon as we could. The sun and the sand were hot while the water and drinks were cold, it was shaping up to be a good night. After dinner we went back to the hotel looking forward to having some good, clean fun but unfortunately it wasn’t in the cards as we all fell asleep by about 9:30. When we woke up the next morning we were well rested and ready to hit the beach! In hindsight we hit the beach a little too hard, as evidenced by the intense sunburns that almost everyone got that day. Despite the sunburns everyone had a great time at the beach, it was a much needed getaway and besides now this trip will always be a memorable one! 

Zach Prouty

The Great American Pastime

The great "American Pastime" is something that I have had the opportunity to enjoy while I have been living in Washington, DC. Baseball in the U.S. is called this because during the late 19th and early 20th century it was probably the most widely played sport in the country. Kids and families played all the time. It was that era’s video games and reality TV. Imagine that, kids actually wanting to play outside!

Being from Columbus, I rarely have opportunities to neither see a professional baseball game, nor have cared to if I am being completely honest. I have never been a big baseball fan mostly because I didn’t have a team to cheer for. Somehow within the last eight weeks though, I have been converted into a Nationals fan.


The first game we went to I was stunned by the amount of people and excitement that was present. Being a diehard football fan, I didn’t think I could find something as enjoyable as witnessing my Buckeyes run on the field or watching the Denver Broncos via my TV. There is a sense of national pride at a ball park and people seem to be content even if the game is a bust. That sense of American pride at the park thrilled me more than I thought it would.

After that first game, I have attended a few more. I also find myself not skipping over the baseball scores on ESPN as I usually do this time of year. Perhaps more people should experience this “American Pastime” more often, something that used to be such a commonality for everyone in the country, something that most people could agree on and enjoy together.

-Shannon Ryan

Holding Out For a Hero

What constitutes a hero? There are some people who idealize their favorite NBA player or hold a newly famed singer in high esteem. For me, it takes a lot more than a game winning three pointer or having the ability to attract an audience with your voice. Webster's dictionary does its best to portray the qualifiers of a hero in our society but there still exists the question of what the true meaning of what it takes to reach hero status. Courage, strength, intelligence, dedication, integrity. The list of adjectives are seemingly endless. Heroic action is not designated for prince charming coming to the rescue. In fact, most of my role models in life have been women who have had to fight to have their voices be heard in the political world. Congresswomen Gabby Giffords embodies all of the qualities I hold true to a hero. She is the kind of me who I look at and aspire to accomplish even a fraction of what she has done with her life.




One of the most memorable moments during my time interning at EMILY's List was when timing worked out in my favor to place me here while the organization hosted their annual We Are EMILY event. Every year they invite donors and political figures who have been supportive of the mission of EMILY's List to honor an exceptional women in politics. There was no better candidate to recognize at this year's ceremony than Gabby Giffords. Twitter, Facebook, and the EMILY's List website spread the word about the memorable event which would be highlighting an even more memorable woman. So it didn't take me too long to respond "yes!" to the email sent out to EMILY's List interns requesting help to staff the event.



The political environment can at times be very hostile and full of conflict. We often discuss during class the lack of compromise that is so lacking in Congress. A sense of compassion and brotherhood/sisterhood is often absent from the members of our political arena. The intensely polarized political realm was put aside for that night, however. Despite the bickering and debate that takes place among politicians most days, the Grand Hyatt event space was filled only with an overwhelming sense of community, pride and respect. It was a reassuring feeling to be a part of the political world so often not portrayed on the television or in newspaper articles. The We Are EMILY event was not about advancing a political agenda into the media spot light or putting forth a stump speech of an up and coming politician. This night was about honoring Congresswomen Gabby Giffords for her past work in politics and look towards her recovery to future accomplishments. It was meant to celebrate a woman who wouldn't admit defeat- a true hero to anyone who aims to make it in the crazy world of politics.
 
-Erin Ryan

Role Reversal

Each of the past two weeks we have had new interns join our office and suddenly I went from low man on the totem pole to showing the new guys the ropes. So far it has been pretty fun, I have to say it is quite enjoyable when people come to me for advice about office related things and what to do in D.C.. It seems that not that long ago I was the green one with no idea what I was doing. The House of Representatives is in recess this week so work in the office is quite slow, so it is a welcome change of pace when I can show the new interns the ropes, whether it be a tour or something as simple as letter writing. I leave in two weeks so it is important that I show the new interns my unique brand of work, lucky for them there will always be several of them so they will never have to feel overwhelmed. I just hope that they have as much fun as I am right now.

Zach Prouty

An Unexpected Internship

        As I began to look for internships for spring quarter in Washington D.C., I was not sure where to start.  I had begun my search too late to try and secure a position with a Congressman and I knew little of other opportunities Washington had to offer.  Through postings I found and contacts provided by Mike McCandlish, I got in touch with several foreign policy and political think tanks.  Not having much luck pursuing those options, I stumbled across a Smithsonian website showing numerous internship opportunities available on a first-come-first-serve basis.  Scrolling through the page down to my area of interest, security and safety, I found a position at the National Museum of Natural History.  The opportunity was too good to pass up.

        Even after finding and securing an internship, I was unsure about what responsibilities I may have and what projects I would be working on throughout the quarter.  I had no reason to worry.  This quarter I cross-referenced chemicals being stored and used by the Smithsonian against databases of Material Safety Data Sheets for those materials, I have shadowed and assisted my supervisor with the inspection of the museum’s storage of off-display collections, and I have been able to create presentations concerning workplace safety and adherence to federal regulations.  Helping with the inspection was especially interesting as i was able to wander the dozens of warehouses containing collections of cultural artifacts, old museum displays, and many rooms filled with animal specimens.  My favorite object was a preserved frog that, as you can see, was about the size of a small child.

 

       Overall, I am very pleased with the opportunities I have had this quarter with the Smithsonian and consider myself fortunate to have found such an engaging experience.  While I had not pictured myself in this position even days before the program started, I am glad I took a chance on this internship.    

- Eric Nash

 

GWU Commencement Ceremony on the National Mall

This morning, I walked down Capitol Hill to witness a high school friend graduate at the George Washington University’s Commencement Ceremony on the National Mall.  Perfectly situated between the Washington Monument and the Capitol, an estimated 25,000 were in attendance to watch the GW class of 2012 graduate.  The experience was a fascinating one and was put together excellently.  I am glad I was able to be a part of it even if I myself am not a George Washington Colonial.

The two keynote speeches came from two men receiving honorary degrees from GWU and service was the theme of the day.  Carlos Slim, the world’s richest man and also the target of several insignificant protests near the ceremony, gave the crowd something to really think about in his speech.  “When you give, do not expect to receive,” Slim said. “God forgives our sins, but not our services.”  These words resonated with the crowd, especially after hearing an undergraduate student, Noreen Kassam, say “Let us begin by impacting the lives of those who come after us... Take what you have learned to change the world,” Kassam said.  NBC nightly news anchor, Brian Williams, also received his honorary degree and treated the crowd to a tale of his distinguished, and very amusing, career as a journalist. 

Even though today was not my commencement day, the George Washington University’s ceremony for its graduates got me thinking about what mine will be like next year.  As I am graduating a full year ahead of schedule, it will be me in the cap and gown listening to more words of advice next May alongside thousands of my fellow Buckeyes.  While I will most certainly spend this upcoming year making sure that I fondly remember my time at Ohio State, the thoughts that will really take hold in my mind will be the ones of service that Kassam, Slim, and Williams spoke of today.  What have I contributed to my peers, friends, and family?  What will I contribute to the world?  I consider myself and the other Glenn Fellows to have taken more initiative in answering these questions by immersing ourselves in Washington DC for a full quarter.  After we’re all graduated in the next few years, hopefully Noreen Kassam’s words stick with all of us as we leave Columbus and enter out into the world: “I hope you do well, but more importantly I hope you do good.”  

--- Alex Polivka

Mount Vernon Excursion

A few weeks ago, the Glenn Fellows were treated to a trip of Mount Vernon, the home of our first president and his wife for more than 40 years. During my trips to DC, I have always wanted to visit Mount Vernon, but have not had the chance. I knew that the estate was the home of George Washington but I had no idea how prized a possession his estate was and what it means to many people.  Similar to the White House, it really is a house for the American people…. Just not as hard to get into.

From his 1,000 volume library to the historical artifacts and restored grounds, George Washington was truly a man who left behind an important contribution in the context of American history in the form of his home. I was most surprised to learn that in the period after his death, Mount Vernon fell into a state of disrepair, and its fate was uncertain until the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, a group of women who banded together to restore and locate his possessions, determined to rescue it. The estate reopened to the public in 1860, nearly a century after his death, and these women dedicated their lives to restoring Mount Vernon to its former appearance.

 

This Association has worked diligently to uphold the Washingtons' memory and in the past 150 years, pursued belongings and artifacts that can help piece together the puzzle of the Washingtons and their daily lives.  It was remarkable to see over 200 people visiting the grounds on a random Friday afternoon and nearly all ages groups represented.  I am thankful that I got to see the house, the gardens, the grounds, the goats, and everything in-between during our trip there.  Mt. Vernon is yet another remarkable experience that I can happily look back on from my time living in Washington as a Glenn Fellow.

---- Alex Polivka