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.

                                                      

The Element of Surprise: I Took an Internship I Knew Literally Nothing About and Am Having the Best Time

When I began my internship search for the Summer, as all stellar students do, I began my search through googling, “cool DC internships.” (Cast a wide net and see what you catch?) I began dreaming of all the awesome things I could be doing this summer, like hanging out with Barack or becoming an acting Supreme Court Justice. Alas, I could not find application portals for either of those positions and instead, I was connected to an opportunity with the Department of Commerce. On first thought, I was like sure, yeah, I like the economy and stuff, and beyond that, I knew little about U.S. trade. Even throughout the interview process, I admitted to my future team that I knew almost nothing about their major projects or achievements but I was very willing and eager to learn. The worst part about trying to explain to my friends in Columbus that I was interning with the Office of Standards and Investment Policy at the International Trade Administration within the Department of Commerce was that I could barely explain it using proper terminology and was told on a few occasions, “what are you talking about? That office really doesn’t exist.”

Well jokes on them, because it does exist, and I do work there, and it’s great. On my first day, I was bombarded with new acronyms: MRAs, NTBs, ISOs, and SDOs. The first week, I spent most of my time running in and out of meetings and googling new terms and information on my phone in hallways between those meetings. I felt like I was learning a week’s worth of information every day. Now, just over a month in, I finally feel like I have my bearings in my office, and have just scratched the surface of understanding how the complex machine that is The Department of Commerce works. I have gained respect for how much standards in trade touches every person’s life in some capacity every day. And, I also have gained an appreciation for the breadth of knowledge that my team has; every day is so different and they are able to talk knowledgeably on so many issues. In one day, we will talk about building codes in Africa, food security in the APEC economies, textile trade in Canada, wine trade in the EU, and ICT technologies in the ASEAN.

When I started talking to other WAIP students about their internships, I wondered what my summer could have been like if I had taken an internship where I was more familiar with the content. I realized how lucky I am that I had forced myself to try something new. My father once told me to never take or stay in a job where you feel comfortable, because if you feel comfortable with what you are doing, you are no longer growing. A few weeks ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into; however, now, I’m falling in love with the excitement and diversity of my work and am hoping that I never get out. (Also, massive shout out to the best resources I have ever had: Google and Economics in Minutes: 200 Key Concepts Explained in an Instant by Niall Kishtainy. Thanks for the support).

Disclaimer: I am currently 100% more confused about my career path will look like than I was five weeks ago, and I am increasingly becoming okay with that.

- Merritt Ogle

Peace Corps, Lunch, and Life Epiphanies

Working for Peace Corps has been both everything and nothing that I expected.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the professionalism, youth, ambition, and drive of all the employees I’ve met. The unique agency has defied many of my expectations for what bureaucracy looks like, and what the Peace Corps looks like today. (Let’s just say I’ve seen a lot less red tape and tie-dye than I anticipated). However, every individual that works here still reflects that stereotypical “Peace Corps” vibe in some way. Some do it outwardly with obscure, imported lunches or cultural artifacts adorning their offices, but many reflect that “Peace Corps” vibe only through their personalities and interactions, which create an environment of love, compassion, mindfulness, empathy, and adaptability that I imagine is unparalleled in most (if not all) other professional settings.

“Peace Corps does not sell widgets,” Director Stines Derenoncourt explained. It functions on the exchange of information: what instructors are teaching volunteers, what volunteers are teaching communities, what communities are teaching volunteers, and what returned volunteers are teaching Americans. Cross cultural communication and knowledge is the largest product of Peace Corps. True to form, the agency prioritizes information exchange internally, as well, often holding trainings and ample opportunities to learn something new. One of these programs is “Lunch with a Leader,” which allows Headquarters staff members to meet with the Directors of offices in small, intimate settings and ask them questions. I quickly RSVPed and luckily made it on the guest list to today’s lunch after reading the bio provided of this Director:

Sonia Stines Derenoncourt, Director of the Office of Overseas Programming and Training Support (OPATS)

As Director of the Office of Overseas Programming and Training Support, Sonia Stines Derenoncourt works to ensure standards of excellence in Peace Corps programming, training, and evaluation. Inspired by her Peace Corps service (Islamic Republic of Mauritania, 1989–1991) to pursue a career in international public health, she has over two decades of experience that includes working in Haiti, Mali, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Cameroon, Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia and serving as the country director of Peace Corps/Philippines. She has worked with John Snow, Inc., to expand services and provide technical assistance in family planning; with CARE International to ensure quality reproductive health services; and with Catholic Relief Services to coordinate and manage programs in food security, maternal health, and HIV. Ms. Derenoncourt completed her Master of Public Health at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is fluent in French and Haitian Kreyol. She and her husband have four children.

I went into the lunch hoping to learn more about programming, seeing that I work in the Office of Communications and wanted to branch out a little more. Little did I know that Director Sonia Stines Derenoncourt would vocalize things I vitally needed to hear during my time at WAIP. I decided to feature her gems of advice in my blog post for every WAIP student (and every rising college senior) who is struggling to figure out their place in this world.

First off, let me set the scene: immediately upon hearing her speak, you can tell that Director Stines Derenoncourt is exceptionally wise and self-actualized. She attests to the powers of meditation and journaling. She believes that self-reflection is key to success and personal growth. As all OSU student leaders can appreciate, she is also a fan of Strengths Quest. Her top strength is belief which she thinks illustrates her need to do things that align with her core values. This belief has guided her through life: it led her to pick Peace Corps service over medical school and to continue her career serving in many different countries with particular focus on international public health (even with a family in tow).

Director Stines Derenoncourt had many musings during the lunch that acted as epiphanies for me. First, she discussed how every single experience you have had has shaped who you are today. She urges you to follow those innate pullings and desires because they will lead you to the things that you are meant to do. She also urges you to be open to your current situation. She explains that every experience you have will serve you in the future. Even the most mundane experiences will serve you in ways you may not realize you’ll need. She argues that the most difficult experiences will serve you the most for the rest of your life. Although you may not see it as a positive now, often the most challenging times are what you will reflect back on positively because it teaches you so much about yourself and strengthens you for the future. Her biggest career advice was to keep your options open. Don’t pursue only one role, but many roles and then ask a lot of questions and think critically about which is the best role for you.

Director Sonia Stines Derenoncourt’s most recent passion is pursuing a coaching license. According to her, coaching is effectively recognizing one’s mind as a creative, powerful, and whole being that holds untapped wisdom and answers. People have trouble connecting the information or aligning the data they hold inside their own minds. The role of a coach is simply to ask the right questions to alter the innate filters of the brain to help an individual reach a solution or idea they need help realizing. She gave an example of driving to work in the morning. You may notice every car that slows down in front of you, but do you notice the number of trees you pass? A coach may ask about the trees when all you can focus on is the cars, which sparks a reflection.

Particularly this last passage was important for me to hear. What filters are altering my perspective during my time in WAIP? Am I being as open as I should be to the numerous opportunities and career paths we are presented with here? Maybe I am focusing too much on the “cars” and accidentally ignoring the “trees.” Thanks to both Katy’s very diverse programming and Director Stines Derenoncorut’s advice, I’ve decided to ask myself unexpected questions, pursue avenues that aren’t what I would usually choose to focus on, and actively work to broaden my horizons during my time here in WAIP. I encourage my fellow WAIP students to do the same because perhaps we really do have the key to our future right in front of us, we’re just not looking in the right place.

-Erin Yonchak

Stepping in Another’s Shoes Sometimes Means Not Wearing Shoes at All

Adam Grachek

One of the first experiences I had in DC this summer was the EU embassy open house on embassy row. The food was great and the people were extremely friendly, a truly cultural experience. One of the places open on embassy row for visitors was the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C., which was extremely exciting for me because I couldn’t even tell you of an Islamic center or mosque anywhere in Columbus. The people working the open house dressed the girls in veils and asked that everyone take off their shoes before stepping inside the mosque. Turkish carpets covered the floor and on the back wall people prayed to Allah in Arabic for peace and guidance. It was eye opening to be able to experience a place of worship, revered to by many to be a place of comfort and safety. Opening such a precious place to the general public is a vulnerable thing to do, and just shows you how open the Islamic community in the United States wants to be with their fellow Americans.

This election season has seen so much unnecessary bigotry, racism, and sexism compared to any other in my memory. Our diversity as a country is something that shouldn’t be looked down upon, but rather embraced, it’s a pillar of what it means to be a democracy. I just wonder if people like Donald Trump or Ted Cruz sat down with a Mexican immigrant, or a Muslim American, or a transgender American, how truly different their perspective would be on their explicit and implicit biases. Every person has the same desire for love, acceptance, and respect as yourself. Being able to experience that human connection in an environment not of your own was truly immeasurable.

Summer Camp

Summer Camp

Margaret Gearhart

I was never one of those kids that went to a sleep away summer camp during my childhood. I saw them in movies like The Parent Trap but I never got to experience that, well until May 7, 2016.  Pulling up to WISH housing is exciting and nerve wracking at the same time.  As a girl with quite a hefty wardrobe the thought of sharing one room with 3 other girls was a bit daunting.  Once everything was settled and all my stuff was put away and the groceries were bought it became evident that living in a house with 13 other people (3 girls and 10 boys) is as close to summer camp as I was ever going to get.

At first it’s exciting to spend time with 13 people you’ve never met and start to get to know them all, but it isn’t always sunshine and butterflies.  WAIP starts immediately and you learn very quickly that the summer is going to be intense.  The first full week of work, class, policy salons, and study tours was, what I thought at the time, going to the most exhausting week of my life, worse than finals even.  The house lost its shiny new home sparkle and the roommates lost their shiny new friends charm.  Reality of just how extensive the summer was going to be set in extremely quick.  

This may sound like “wow she really hated this program and her roommates” but it’s the exact opposite.  WAIP provided me with the best opportunities to work and network with alumni in DC but it also gave me a group of people to lean on.  Every WAIP student has those days where they just want to crawl into bed and never get out.  These are the days where the rest of the roommates and students in the program matter the most.  Being reminded that you are 1 of only 30 Ohio State students that got selected for WAIP or that you are 1 of 9 interns accepted at your office from applicants across the country is what WAIP Summer Camp is for.  Having people there to tell you that you can compete with the Ivy League intern that sits next to you and that you can do a better job because you’re a buckeye is why the friends you make in WAIP matter.  These are the people that are going to keep you sane (and probably make you insane sometimes). The close quarters and bunk beds just give the program a summer camp feel, but the friends and activities make it an adult-ish version of what so many kids experienced when they were younger.  The memories made throughout the summer include more than just the projects you got to participate in at your internship.  They include things like kayaking on the Potomac with a friend who hates nature, taking all of Katy’s advice about everything DC and ending up at an interesting venue one Friday night, and experiencing three months in one of the best cities in the country.  WAIP is summer camp with a lot of hard work thrown in but it wouldn’t be the program it is without the best of all of it.

99 hours

What can you learn in 99 hours? I am hoping the answer is A LOT. I have now spent 99 hours in my office working for The National Partnership for Women and Families. My cubicle has an inspirational sign from my best friend another from my mom, lists tacked to the walls, and binders full of information. I have countless folders saved to my hard drive and my emails sorted into countless folders. After 99 hours I realized that I should begin to evaluate my work as an intern.

            When I started reflecting I first asked myself – am I a good intern? Being in WAIP, we get a lot of advice on how to be a good intern: ask good questions, show up, say yes, be prepared, do you your research, network, and the list goes on. Each piece of advice holds merit and value, but I think the thing that I have found to be most important is having the confidence in yourself to do these things.

            The piece of advice that takes the most confidence for me is asking questions. We have this innate fear of asking questions because we are afraid to seem unprepared or unintelligent. Every time I have asked a question it has been met with a thank you and an apology for forgetting that it is not expected for me to know that piece of information. My lived advice on this one: if you’re afraid that a question is “stupid”, write it out in an email to the person you would ask and try one more time to answer it on your own. If you still need help, ask. Time and time again I have done this and realized how I could answer the question on my own.

            The confidence to be a good intern can also be hard to attain for me as a Social Work student in federal policy work. I know that I am at a deficit in experience and education at times and this may result in more questions and more improvement-based feedback from my supervisors. With that being said, I knew early on that I wouldn’t be the most experienced intern or the intern with the most background in this work, but I would strive to be the intern who catches on quick and works hard.

            Yesterday, one of my supervisors said to me that she felt as though I were already an employee and she appreciated how fast I caught on to the work that was being done. To me this is high praise and gave me strong affirmation in the work I have been doing.

            Each day as an intern in DC you gain invaluable experience. You gain experience in being an “adult”, in working full time for a company, and in balancing work, school and life. I thought that being an RA at OSU forced me to learn balance and time management like a pro. This experience has taught me that you are never finished learning these skills.

            99 hours is a sizable amount of time, and it has truly been time well spent. Outside of this, I have also been to many Smithsonian’s and the Library of Congress, I have biked in front of The White House, ran laps around the Supreme Court, studied on the steps of the Supreme Court, navigated the metro, frequented coffee shops, gone to Jazz in the Garden, met the Danish Prime Minister, visited embassies and learned about careers I had never heard of. DC is a place you never stop learning trying new things. We are almost a month in, and I can’t wait to see what my next adventure will be.

-Leah Uhrig