King of the Hill: Making the Most of an Internship on Capitol Hill

King of the Hill: Making the Most of an Internship on Capitol Hill
By Jacob Perry

I have had some truly amazing experiences on the Hill as an intern with my member of the U.S. House of Representatives. To describe myself as a “political enthusiast” would be an understatement- I am still excited about the fact that my walk to work every morning takes me right past the Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and the Capitol. I am thoroughly enjoying my experience so far, and I already have a working list of tips and tricks for future Hill interns who hope to also make the most of their experience. From the practical to the philosophical, and in no particular order, here they are:

Be professional. 
This should go without saying, but it is remarkable how casual and almost sloppy some of your fellow interns will be when they arrive for work on days when you’re not in session. I’ve heard staff talk amongst themselves about that intern in the hall who looked like he was on his way to a frat party rather than a Congressional office- don’t be that intern. Save your Patagonia and Bean boots for the weekend and follow the lead of the senior staff in your office. It’s always better to err on the side of caution and come in overdressed.

Be inquisitive.
You are there to learn! In my experience so far, everyone in the office appreciates that you’re likely not being paid, and they want to help you learn and experience as much as you can while you’re around. Don’t be afraid to ask questions all day long, no matter how dumb they may seem to you. Practically everyone has to earn their stripes as an intern first, so people understand where you’re coming from and are happy to oblige. You can learn all about the different jobs staffers hold and life on the Hill from different positions if you’re willing to simply speak up. This leads me to my next point…

Assert yourself.
Washington, D.C. is full of ambitious, “type-A” people constantly looking for the next opportunity to advance their career. Networking is the name of the game, and I find that it helps if I maintain a similar mindset at work. Your day can be fast paced and you’ll have all sorts of opportunities if you’re willing to take them. The only way you’re going to get to speak personally with former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, for example, is if you’re willing to walk right up to him before his talk and introduce yourself. Some of my coolest experiences only happened because I pushed myself in this way.

Embrace your unique role.
As an intern, you are for all intents and purposes “staff”. It’s crazy, but this entitles you to almost all the privileges of the paid staff in your office as far as where you can go in the Capitol. For the most part, unless there are signs that read “Members Only”, you can go basically anywhere in the Capitol- do it! Go poke around those stairwells off from the Rotunda that say “authorized personnel only” or something, because you’re totally allowed to take it all in! That little orange badge is essentially an all-access back stage pass to the greatest legislative body in the history of mankind…remember that. The best part of your unique role as an intern is that you’re allowed to go lots of places, but you’re not expected to know all the rules- so if you happen to get in an elevator with a Senator, chances are they’ll be nice to you since you don’t know any better. Obviously this doesn’t mean you should waltz right onto the floor of one of the chambers, but it does mean you can explore quite a bit without much fear of being reprimanded.

Be friendly.
Being friendly costs you nothing and makes life so much easier in general, but especially in the Capitol. The Capitol Police and all the various workers you’ll encounter are some of the most helpful people you’ll ever meet, and they’re more than willing to help you find the flag office when you’re lost or get your member’s bill dropped off to the correct cloakroom if you’re willing to ask. A smile and some genuine appreciation will go a long way.

Represent well.
You represent your program, your university, your member, your state, your nation, and ultimately yourself from the moment you set foot on Capitol Hill- remember this! You owe it to yourself to be at your best and work hard to represent well. There is a direct correlation, for example, between quality of staff led tours from a member’s office and votes for that member. The little things matter, and you want to make a good impression in all you do.

Keep your ears open and your mouth shut.
You’re going to hear all sorts of chatter from staffers, constituents, lobbyists, and even other members- so be discreet and trustworthy. People have real problems that they’ll bring to your office to solve, and you owe it to them to keep their business private. You can learn an awful lot by paying attention to what’s discussed in the office, but some parts of your experience are simply not meant to be shared with everyone you know.

Play the part.
When people come into the office for a meeting or a tour or call with a concern, you are the face of your member’s office. People don’t know that you just arrived in Washington a few weeks ago, so don’t let them know with your demeanor! Be professional and confident, and make people feel taken care of. No one will guess you’re a complete newbie unless you broadcast it to them by appearing incompetent. This doesn’t mean you should pretend to know everything, but it does mean that you can project a can-do attitude and willingness to be of service.

Be yourself.
My previous tip may make it seem as though I’m encouraging interns to be disingenuous, but nothing could be further from the truth! At the end of the day, you’re doing yourself a favor if you’re authentic and don’t take yourself too seriously. You remember people in your life who are genuine and put themselves out there, so the same should be true of staffers you work with. Get to know those who work in your office and let them get to know you! You’re all in this together, and in a sea of faces you’re more likely to be remembered if you’re authentic and memorable.

It's All About Perspective

Today we spoke with Holocaust survivor Bob Behr, who was so kind to share his personal experiences during such a horrific moment in human history. His words made me reflect not only on the cruelties endured by so many during the Holocaust, but also on the countless other instances of human violence and persecution ongoing today. There is so much human suffering in the world, and frankly it overwhelms me at times.

But the main thing I learned from Mr. Behr today wasn’t about suffering, and it wasn’t even about the Holocaust. Instead, it was about putting life into perspective.

This man, who lost his childhood and his freedom, who endured forced labor and the threat of imminent death, was sitting in front of me pouring out nothing but knowledge and kindness.  Instead of breeding hate, he spoke of a brighter future. He even cracked some jokes about moving to the U.S. and choosing between “the cowboys of Dallas and the gangsters of Chicago” on his immigration forms. Mr. Behr embodies optimism, and today more than ever I am inspired to gain some altitude in my own perspective.

I am only twenty-one years old and on my first leg of life; I have so much growing yet to do. I see my progression since I first got to college and how much I’ve matured in my years at OSU –I’m so thankful for all of that, but truthfully, even Columbus is a bubble, and choosing to step away from my routine was one of the best decisions I’ve made. If I could take one thing away from my first two months in Washington, it’s that life should be a constant growing experience.

I haven’t felt this far out of my comfort zone in years, and sometimes it’s scary to feel like I’ve retreated so much from how in control I felt in Columbus. At the same time, I’ve learned that if you embrace that feeling, you’ll not only eventually make it go away but you’ll have gained valuable perspective.

It’s no secret that WAIP has some busy weeks between interning, classwork, and program activities. But if I had any advice, it would be to take time every day to reflect on the positive aspects of everything we do here. It’s so easy to get caught up on bad weather, a long day at work, class work, or missed opportunities if you let yourself. But the more I remind myself of all the amazing opportunities I’ve had because of WAIP and the small, incremental steps I’ve taken toward personal growth, the more I allow myself to experience more. The less I let stress in, the more time I have to “say yes” (a WAIP motto!) to trying new things – be it happy hour at one of the many top-rated restaurants in DC, exploring a different neighborhood, or walking by the monuments at night.   The truth is that little incremental steps every day amount to a lot of gained perspective at the end of four months. DC has so much to offer and who knows when (or if) you’ll come back. “Say yes” to every opportunity you have, and there is no doubt you’ll leave this city with a more positive perspective on life.

- Maria Vlasie

Sole Searching

When I arrived in DC, I was quickly overwhelmed. I was overwhelmed by all of the sites I wanted to see I was overwhelmed with careers and figuring out where I could see myself post-graduation. With a busy schedule filled with work, class, and policy salons, it was difficult for me to find that necessary time to self-reflect and explore. That is why I decided to sign up for the Rock ‘n’ Roll DC Full Marathon.

Starting each day with a run in DC has been surreal! My running routes included the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, the Capitol, the Mall, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Ronald Reagan Airport, FDR Memorial, MLK Jr. Memorial, Rock Creek Park, and the Zoo.  It has been even more amazing exploring these sites through the blizzard, the hail, the rain, and the occasional 60 degrees sunny, blue-sky days. 

Besides providing an opportunity to explore, my runs have given me a peaceful outlet to self-reflect. I’m able to think about my work as an intern at Polaris Project and the role I can play in the fight against human trafficking. I’ve discovered my passion for human rights issues and the career paths I no longer wish to pursue because of this discovery. I think about the city I want to end up in after I graduate and have come to the conclusion that may not even be in the US. I think about how grateful I am to be in this program, where I am given all of the tools and resources to take on this city with confidence.

I’m three weeks away from the marathon, and I don’t feel overwhelmed anymore.   I run through the streets and trails of DC with my OSU headband in confidence. I even sometimes hear the beloved “OH” from a runner passing by and feel that buckeye support and I am home.

-Julie Manuszak  

Washington 2.0

I think every WAIPist has a shared experience here, but for me it feels like I’m getting a second chance at Washington. I graduated high school in 2010 and left for the Army a few weeks later, and somehow along the way I ended up here at Walter Reed. The Army post closed and merged with the Naval Hospital, so there were no barracks for me. The Army put me up in what my 1SG called “The Taj Mahal of Barracks” in Silver Spring, MD. All the guys were in their mid-20s, and I had just turned 19, so I spent my free time site seeing. I went to every museum, every monument, every attraction. I always wandered around, wondering what it would be like to actually have access to Washington and not feel like a tourist despite living here for almost 2 years. WAIP has given me a different perspective on places that were already familiar to me. I used to walk by the White House fence, and today I’m friends with a person on the FLOTUS staff. I remember irrationally having a distaste for the street lamps at L’Enfant Plaza, so of course, today my 9^th floor office at Battelle overlooks them (humble brag). I felt so disconnected from politics, and today I can’t escape it. I attend Senate Committee hearings and sit a few feet from my heroes (and a few villains). When I was in the Army I spent my free time riding the Red Line from Silver Spring to Washington, only enjoying it in passing. Today I feel connected to the city, and I’m doing everything I wish I had done the first time I lived here. I’m also of drinking age now, so I’m discovering more every weekend. In fact, It’s 9:21 pm on Friday night—I’m going to go discover some more. Thanks WAIP.

Jose