How to Survive WAIP

 

How to Survive WAIP

By Maggie Walsh

We arrived at 225 Constitution Avenue NE Washington, DC on May 7 to two beautiful town houses within sight of the Supreme Court and the Capitol. I knew these details going in however I was not prepared for the summer camp like atmosphere of living with thirteen people. There are days were living with so many intelligent, driven, and opinionated people is extremely difficult. On the other hand we have all become fast friends who share our days, food, and experiences. There is not another group of people I would rather share this amazing experience with. But with every journey there are growing pains. Here is some advice for future WAIPers to help navigate those first few weeks.

1)   Be straightforward with your roommates going in. If you snore, talk in your sleep, or any other habits alert your roomies. Coordinate your shower times. Most importantly be flexible having roommates can be difficult, but it can also be a great experience and an opportunity to form new friendships if you are open to it.

2)   You are going to have hard days. Whether it is your first day of your internship or your fifth week. You will want others to be sympathetic to your situation so listen to your fellow WAIPers struggles and help motivate them to give it their all the next day.

3)   Have family dinner every week. As the summer progresses you will get busy, stressed, and over stimulated. Make the time for house dinners. Whether it is Taco Thursday (we have policy salons on Tuesday) or a simple pasta dinner make the time to bond with your fellow WAIPers.

4)   Utilize your mentors. Your mentor will be an amazing human being with a career that you can only hope for. So take advantage, ask questions, and be open and honest with them. They volunteered to help and want to, but you have to let them.

5)   Washington, DC is full of Buckeyes. Take advantage of this. The Buckeye community is extremely helpful and supportive to those who seek it out. Whether you are homesick or just need some friendly advice you can always find a Buckeye.

6)   The Metro is dysfunctional. Always give yourself more than enough time to get to work in the morning because the metro never runs on time. So if you’re running late just take the Uber.

7)   Don’t be afraid to explore on your own. This is a personal journey first and foremost. Do not hold yourself back or leave with regrets because you couldn’t find a group to help you with you exploration. Some of the best moments happen when you are bold enough to set out on your own.

8)   Make the most of your time. You will never be stretched as thin or be as tired as you are as a WAIPer, and if you’re not you are doing it wrong. Become an organized person and manage your time with precision.

9)   Be a yes intern. You will hear this often going into your internship. A yes intern does copies, sends emails, makes coffee, and all the other typical intern duties. It’s easy to be a yes intern for the fun stuff, but a true yes intern does it all.

10) Most importantly have fun. WAIP is a once in a lifetime academic experience, but D.C. is a once in a lifetime life experience so make the most of it. Submerse yourself in the happy hour culture, eat brunch, go to free movies on the mall, and all the other amazing opportunities offered.