Advice

This week is our homestretch; we are seven short days away from the end of our semester. I am 16 short days away from graduating. Time sure has flown right by. I have begun to reflect on my time here, and soak in as much as possible. Here is some advice:

1. Do not be afraid of rejection. First, learning to hear “no” and to keep going will serve you well in the future, no matter where you end up. Second, every time you let fear stand in front of you, you are willingly allowing a potential opportunity to float away. Be kind and respectful when asking for someone to look over your resume, write you a recommendation, or whatever it might be, but do not let fear be your guiding light.
   
2. DO AS MUCH AS YOU CAN in the short amount of time you have here!!!! I can’t stress this enough. There will be many events, policy discussions, seminars, speakers, and things of the like, that you will want to attend. As an intern, your place of work will likely want you to get the best experience possible, so ask! Obviously you have a job to do and you want to be the best intern you can possibly be, but every once in a while, you should take the time to experience what you don’t have at home. I was able to see the Pope speak at the Capitol, and that wouldn’t have happened had it not been for Sam (thanks for the tickets, Sam!) and for asking my supervisor to take the morning off for the event.
   
3. Live in the present. You will be in the Nation’s Capitol…do you understand how cool that is?! Soak up every walk you take past the Capitol, the Washington Monument, or whatever other historical/important site you will definitely pass. You will likely work with people who are very passionate, ambitious, and intelligent, so take the time to get to know them and ask questions. Be present throughout your time in DC--it will serve you very well.
   
4. Lastly, save up some money to go to a nice restaurant here. The food here is preeeetty good, and there are some quality restaurants that won't TOTALLY break your bank. Other WAIPers have listed their food recommendations, so check out those blog posts while you are at it.

That's it! Have fun, enjoy yourselves, and breathe in all of this new air. 

- Sarina

Are you attempting to know me?

Even now, after more than three months in Washington, I’m still a little surprised by how many people are willing to go out of their way to help you. My supervisor, my coworkers, and my mentor all effectively threw contacts and helpful advice my way. I was invited out to eat and to happy hours, extended opportunities and offers of contact, and even invited to my coworker’s apartment all as part of an effort to make me feel included in their circles, and I’ve found that they have a genuine interest in how I’m doing.

I remember being told that this is a very network-y, quid-pro-quo city, but it’s a little foreign to me and it still manages to catch me off guard. I know there’s that “Midwest nice” stereotype, but I’ve always found that it manifests in polite distance rather than personal and meaningful connection. It took some getting used to, and obviously still does, but I actually enjoy it.

Christian Lesnek

Sentimental Thoughts

It's funny to think back on the moment I decided to apply for WAIP. Sitting in my room in Columbus, I spontaneously decided I needed to branch out and do something bigger. What I did not know was how "big" and how impactful this semester would be. Prior to WAIP, I had lived in Ohio my entire life and college career, and I never really put myself out there. For me, I was terrified of a big city/the metro/not knowing anyone and I won't lie my first week or two I did not know if I made the right decision. Fast forward 3 months later and I feel more confident, independent and comfortable in my own shoes than ever, and I am so happy I made that decision in April to apply. While I could talk for hours on the fantastic memories and friends I've made, I think the greatest gift from WAIP would be a better understanding of myself and my goals. I'll return to Columbus for my final semester with more confidence and drive to succeed in my career. And will probably annoy my friends with the endless brag on how amazing DC and WAIP truly is. To any Ohio State student considering this program: you might be torn on missing football season, having too much FOMO, or maybe even scared of leaving your comfort zone... but I can tell you that WAIP trumps it all and remember: in the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take.

-Virginia Turner 

Luke's Thoughts

Living in Washington D.C., its impossible not to be exposed to American Exceptionalism. Today, the idea has become tied up with the American ego; one nation under god, the one indispensable nation, even Donald Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again” evokes the idea in a twisted way. 

But the idea takes its origins from a much more humble understanding of this country and its place in world history. When John Winthrop first spoke of a “city upon a hill,” he did not speak of America as a holy land, blessed by the lord. Rather, he understood the American experiment unfolding before him to be one that the rest of the world would watch with great interest. For the future of humanity, he recognized the enormous value of this experiment succeeding, not only for the prosperity of his fellow citizens, but as an example to likeminded individuals all over the world. In this way, America was exceptional not for its status as a favored nation, but for the massive and very public task before it. Accordingly, early American Exceptionalism was an idea of humility.

Somewhere through the course of history, Americans began to feel that they had fulfilled their nations ambition, and American exceptionalism took on the egotistical, chest thumping flavor it has today. I can’t argue that some of this chest thumping is unwarranted; this country has done great things, and we shouldn't shy away from that. But I do wonder if this is a useful way for Americans to think about themselves. Humility can guide a nation to greatness; most of American history has proven that. I’m not sure that cockiness can do the same thing.

- Luke Mesiano

Doin' Time

I suppose I didn’t realize it at the time, but when I first stepped onto Capitol Hill, I initiated something of a transformation process. I’ve been working on campaigns since before anyone could be able to take seriously my telling them who to vote for, and I’ve worked in a state level legislature throughout my college career. None of that prepared me for the level of talent and intelligence I was about to come in contact with.

When you tell someone in Ohio you work on “The Hill,” you suddenly receive, though it’s small, a level of respect. You work in politics and you probably know what you’re talking about. Washington D.C. is not quite so reverent. If you’re an intern in the Senate like me, to the average Washingtonian I’ve come in contact with, you probably could not be less impressive. It means you’re doing the easiest work an office can give out, and you’re almost doing it just for the privilege of doing it.

All that said, it’s still a privilege. You have to do your time. It sucks, but even if you fancy yourself the greatest political mind to come out of your mid-sized Midwestern city, chances are you don’t know anything about anything. So if I may impart the small amount of wisdom I’ve picked up in my time here, it’s that the as soon as you realize how much you have to learn, the process of learning becomes incredible.

-Sam Runta

"As you would cook for your own family".

As evidenced by my last post… I really like food. Like a lot. Like a lot ^lot.

For our second service event, WAIP, along with other OSU alumni, volunteered at DC Central Kitchen, a non-profit organization dedicated to "reducing hunger with recycled food, training unemployed adults for culinary careers, serving healthy school meals, and rebuilding urban food systems through social enterprise." At the kitchen, we were first trained on basic food safety handling tips. We then were split off into three groups- one which de-boned fish, one that chopped potatoes, and my group that was supposed to shred and descale fish. As I descaled chunk after chunk of salmon, I was able to truly lose myself in the task.

It wasn't until I got home that I really thought about how amazing and important that organization was. I looked online, and learned that the group started in 1989, when a young nightclub manager named Robert Egger began by picking up leftovers from President George H. W. Bush's inauguration and delivered it to area shelters. Today, DCCK distributes 5,000 meals a day at little to no cost to local homeless shelters, transitional homes, and other nonprofits dedicated to feeding the homeless. More impressively, DCCK has a Culinary Job Program for people fighting homelessness, addiction, and incarceration.

Like many others, this experience in DC has given me more questions about what I want to do with my life than it has answered. But two things have become clear to me. The first is simply that meal preparation and cooking has truly become a hobby of mine. It's strange that it took me going to DC, where I have tiny, often times troublesome, stove and oven to realize this. The second is to always carry forward the spirit of DCCK in my future endeavors- that no matter what I do and where I go, it is important to be plugged in and supportive of my local community Despite the cynicism, the polarization, the fear in today's world food- yes something as simple food- is part of a common language that binds humanity together.

Photo Credits: @dccentralkitchen

-Farhad Choksy

A Strategy to Live in Washington and Leave Without Regretting What You Did Not Visit

                Washington D.C. has so many things to do, too many things to do actually, to get around to everything in the short semester you will be here.  That is what makes it such a great city to live and work in, but it can lead to regrets when it comes time to leave after the semester ends and nobody wants that, you should leave with good memories about your time here.  So instead of trying to see everything in the city that you can, just try to get to three places that you really, really want to see before you leave.  Then, accompany your fellow WAIPers to their 3 places that they really, really want to see and try to be open to the importance/fun of the experience.  This is how I recommend seeing the city, since some of the most fun you can have is when you experience new things with no previous expectations, and it gives you the satisfaction of crossing things off of your list to see, and allows you to complete it.  It brings a stronger feeling of completion when you have a completed list as opposed to an open ended goal of “as much as I can get to”.  I don’t mean to be negative here, but you will not be able to see everything, but if you put in a little effort, you can still see the things you want and have plenty of once in a lifetime experiences before you leave.

Home

            For the first 18 years of my life, “home” was a very stagnant concept.  My home had four bedrooms; my home had a burgundy wall; my home was floored with hardwood.  It was a lovely home.  And for the reason that it was lovely, I think that many people live their entire lives believing that they only have one home.

            In fact, when my parents moved states after I went to college, I still believed that home was an entirely singular concept.  I was often asked if I felt that I had lost my home when I packed up and moved to Columbus, and my parents sold those hardwood floors to another family, so that two other children could skate across them in gold-toed dress socks.  My answer was always no.  I always responded that home was where my parents lived.  In a sense this is still true.  During the long week before Thanksgiving, when darkness crept over me long before I left the office, I missed that home.  The metro felt cramped, my twin bed pushed into my ribs, and coffee had temporarily become my mother figure.  But I did not just miss the home that my parents had come to embody. I missed my Columbus home, comprised of my quirky friends, complete with their deadpan deliveries and endless quips.  I missed my Cleveland home, comprised of the solid friends and family that marked my adolescence.  Luckily, over Thanksgiving I got to visit all of these homes, and I also came to realize that the concept of “home” has become transient.

            Crucial to this revelation was the understanding that WAIP has become one of my homes.  Although only for a semester, this city and (more importantly) these people welcomed me at a time when I was feeling lost and helped me find my feet.  And while WAIP, just as my childhood home did, will soon come to an end, I will always remember:

The time Sarina and I laughed the entire walk home, paying no mind to the Capitol or the Supreme Court;

The time Ana and I first walked past the Capitol and reflected on how lucky we were to be here;

The time I realized that Christian maybe knows more about international politics than I do;

The times that Matt was our team’s only hope when the Trivia Guys asked a sports question;  

The time Virginia and I went to happy hour and 100% agreed on all of the food we wanted to order;

The times that Sam reminded me to believe in idealism, even though sometimes it is easier to dismiss it;

The time that Luke and I went to a comedy club, and I realized he was still the funniest person in the room;

The time that Farhad made me truly angry that billionaires exercise so much control over our political system;

And, finally, the time that, over the course of one semester, I found a weird, loud, nerdy family among nine confused college students.

            For that I am forever grateful.  

Head in the Clouds

Nine days. That's it. I truly can't believe I'll be leaving D.C. in less that ten days, the semester has flown by. I am so grateful to have been part of this program, not only has the program been extraordinary, but the experiences that came with it. This brings me to the story for this final blog.

If I wouldn't have came to D.C. I wouldn't have been forced to finally step foot in an airport. After seeing the reactions of people when I told them this was my first time flying, I came to realize it wasn't the norm. I've never been on a plane because I've never had the opportunity to. This may sounds silly to some because they've lived on planes or depended on planes to see family/friends outside the country, but truth be told, even I wanted to be on a plane during my childhood I wouldn't have.

Coming from a poorer family I didn't know what a "vacation" was or have any family that was more than an hour away. Not to mention we could barely afford gas for the car, let alone plane tickets. That being said, stepping foot on the plane for the first time brought with it excitement and anxiety. My first trip would be at night with the window seat (lucky I know). As the plane took off we first flew over the brightly light Pentagon. Words cannot grasp the beautiful image that is etched in my mind. As we flew over D.C. I had never seen anything so amazing. The buildings and cars gave off lights that painted a picture in the pitch blackness of the night. I had always heard of people being "moved to tears", but I never believed it. But in that moment, I actually cried because the scene was so beautiful. I felt so lucky and privileged to even have to ability to see this because I knew of so many people who never would. Coming back to D.C. I flew during the day, so I was finally able to see the cotton puffs of clouds, but I have to say the night view took the gold.

I know this has nothing to do specifically with the program or even with D.C. but being in D.C. has taught me there are so many people with so many different experiences and point of views. Not everyone may understand your thoughts or stances because they don't have the same background as you. Because of this, you truly have to go into anything and everything with an open-mind. I've also learned to never take what you have for granted and never be ashamed of who you are or what/where you come from. It brings a unique story to those different from you. While in D.C. or anywhere for that matter, soak it up, get out of your comfort zone, and have fun! We only have one life and no one gets out alive anyway. :)

-Anastasia Martinez

Blog Post

While attending a lecture on the compositional history of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue at the Library of Congress, I overheard two elderly women speaking to each other about the first time they heard the piece. As I eavesdropped on their discussion of the sound of vinyl records and the act of paying money for a physical copy of recorded music, I thought of two things. First, I became painfully aware that I was the youngest audience member in the room by at least two decades. Second, I thought back on my first time hearing the piece. For my ego’s sake, I shelved the first, somewhat unnerving thought, and gave my attention to the second.

I heard the piece for the first time when I was four years old. I was on a United Airlines flight from Sydney, Australia, where my family and I were living at the time, traveling to San Francisco, where we were going to visit my grandparents. As I sat in my economy class seat waiting for the flight to take off, the sounds of Rhapsody in Blue came over the speakers to accompany the safety presentation. What United Airlines lacks in customer service, meal quality and bathroom cleanliness, they more than make up for in playlist selection. From that moment on, Rhapsody in Blue was etched in my mind as an object of wonder and awe.

As I listened to the lecture and learned about the piece’s history, I reflected on my personal connection to Rhapsody in Blue. For me, the jazzy, modern, sounds of the composition have represented America ever since I boarded that plane. The piece’s unwavering boldness, incredible variety, and endless flexibility have always seemed perfectly fitted to my ideals about America. 

Walking home from the lecture, I caught a glimpse of the Washington Monument before passing the Supreme Court and the Capitol Dome, all iconic symbols of America. American symbols are everywhere in Washington, and I thought about their importance for a brief moment, but none of these structures moved me to patriotism. Perhaps this is a character flaw on my part. No matter. I put in my headphones and listened to the piece of music I first heard on an uncomfortable international flight, and felt an enormous sense of pride for my country.