Summer at the Museum(s)

As one of the few (maybe the only?) WAIP fellows to work at a museum, I’d like to offer some advice to future WAIPers who want to take advantage of the amazing DC museum scene.

First, get off the Mall. There are some great things to see there, of course, but in my opinion some of the less centrally located museums (especially the non-Smithsonian ones) are too often overlooked.

If you want to see the super-popular Smithsonian museums (such as Air & Space and American History), plan your visit time strategically. Weekends and holidays are often packed (especially in the summer).

Get a tour if you can! Many museums offer free tours or gallery talks on specific days. Check their online calendars to see what programming they’re doing.

Try to plan out when you’re going to visit different places--it’s easy to get overwhelmed and forget to do something on your original list, and your WAIP semester will undoubtedly end before you know it.

Use your lunch break. Or the half-hour when you finish work early, or the hour before a late study tour: since many museums in DC are free, you can see them a little bit at a time (and fit more things into your busy schedule!).

Finally, take pictures!! (If it’s allowed, of course.) Whether for the WAIP instagram or your personal use, you’ll want to remember this semester forever.

Have fun!

-Kait Gilioli

A Haiku or Two for You

For my last blog post I decided to explore my artistic side a write a series of haikus about my time here in D.C. for the summer. I hope these poems entertain and inspire you, but also serve as an overview to the vast amount of experiences I had. Thank you to Ohio State, Katy Hogan, John Glenn, my parents, my internship, and my mentors for making this awesome opportunity happen!


So much time to go
yet I have so much to do
Eat! See! Explore!


When will the rain stop?
Rain rain go away I have a
lot to see today


My internship is
fun new challenging neat big
unique immersive


The White House? How did
I get inside? The Situation
Room? Oh not for me


Policy salons and
study tours are an inside
look into D.C.


My roommate saw Paul
Ryan in the street and look
there is Sanders himself!

Policy paper
coming along, more reading
and research to go


Meeting so many
people there is so much to
learn from everyone


Where did the time go?
Summer flew, so much to do
Two weeks left? Slow down!


Everything I
did I loved; from meeting you
to seeing the views


D.C. I’ll miss you.
Do not worry I’ll be back,
I’ll never forget

-Caroline

Why having a Co-Intern might be the best thing to ever happen to you…

I came into WAIP set on interning with Battelle. I had heard incredible things about the organization as well as the internship in the Federal Relations Office. After an autonomous internship over the course of my junior year, I knew I wanted to find somewhere I could do meaningful work and be trusted with responsibilities outside the regular intern purview. After talking with Katy and past interns, Battelle was the only option that satisfied all of those criteria.

These expectations were challenged when I was first informed I would be paired with a co-intern for the summer, Adam. Admittedly, I was nervous for selfish reasons; I wanted to be the super-intern every boss wants to hire and in my head another intern simply complicated things. It was not until meeting Adam that I realized that could not be further from the truth.

I will qualify the title of this article with the typical Public Affairs line “it depends” because it honestly does depend on the person, but the tips below apply regardless of how well you hit it off with your co-intern. Lucky for me, Adam is not only incredibly intelligent and talented, but also open and understanding. We found out early on that we complement each other, which only makes our work that much valuable to our office. We worked as a team to make sure we both got what we wanted out of this summer, whether it was dividing work based on policy interests or picking up each other’s slack when the other wanted to go on an informational interview.

His experience in technical engineering classes complemented my public policy background and experience from previous internships. His passion for energy and climate change complemented my interest in education policy and budding interest in defense. As a team we were able to network and make a lasting impression in our respective policy and professional communities.

Tips for Co-Interns:

1)      Set expectations with each other, figure out what you are both looking to get out of your internship experience and what goals you have for the future. After setting those expectations, discuss these expectations with your boss and make sure they are aligned. In our case, it could not have worked more perfectly. Dividing our work based on our policy interests helped our office stay organized and effective, always knowing which intern was handling what.

2)      Keep each other accountable and organized. We were lucky to have a giant whiteboard that we made into a color-coded calendar. We added our daily projects, ongoing projects, and external opportunities at the start of every week, which doubled as a goal setting/accountability tool. This helped us gain the trust of our full-time staff and made us effective interns.

3)      Remember your success and your co-intern’s success are not mutually exclusive outcomes—when you find something they would be interested in forward it on. Paying it forward will not only help develop your working relationship, but almost certainly result in them doing the same for you.

4)      Be each other’s number one fan and critic. This summer I have developed new skills and passions, but also realized where I have room for improvement. Adam is the person I can trust to give me honest feedback and help me succeed. Be that person for your co-intern, it will only make you more successful in your position.

5)      Take time to understand them as a person. Adam and I share an office so obviously we were able to talk daily and get to know each other better. Ask about their family, how they are adjusting to DC, what they miss about home, and what they are doing on the weekends. This program is intense and it is nice to have a network of support.

All in all, finding a friend like Adam has been not only one of the best parts of my WAIP experience, but also my collegiate career on the whole. I encourage anyone working with other interns at their placement to take advantage of the opportunity to grow and succeed together, rather than immediately jumping to competition. No, you don't have to be best friends, but using some of these tips you can be a better, more supportive team player.

-McKinzie Harper

Thank you, Katy!

Dear Katy,

I decided to dedicate my final blog post to you because, after all, you are the reason I am here. I am exceptionally grateful for the way you go above and beyond for this program and its participants. Here are just a few things I need to thank you for this summer:

Thank you for knowing me better than I knew myself. It is no secret that you are a huge help when it comes to finding our internship locations. You practically placed me at my internship site, which I had no idea was an option prior to your guidance. Although I wasn’t certain what I was getting myself into, it was truly the perfect place for me. I am extremely grateful you took the time to listen and learn during those first few interactions with me, so that you were able to put me exactly where I needed to be.

Thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone. Your constant encouragement and support to get out there, meet new people, do new things, and make the most out of our summer was what I needed to capitalize on this experience. As you know, I’m fairly introverted but my fellow Peace Corps interns were impressed by how much I reached out to people, both in the office and outside of it (something I would have been hesitant to do had you not pushed us).

Thank you for teaching me things I had no idea I needed/wanted to know. You make sure that our programming is extremely diverse. Because of that, I went places and met people I could have never forecasted. I learned about a whole world of careers I had no idea existed. You opened doors for me that I know I would have never found myself. I will feel much more competent when I start my job search this fall for you truly versed us well in the potential careers in federal public service.

Thank you for making this summer as easy as possible for me. I could not have survived this summer without your meticulous weekly updates and reminders. Thank you also for responding to every one of my panicked texts!

Thank you for dealing with us. You are now nearing the end of hosting the biggest cohort yet in WAIP history. I’m sure we were a handful & frustrating at times (or most of the time), but you handled us with grace and with the upmost commitment to including us all, which I am extremely grateful for. Thank you for your patience and your individualized attention this summer (which most people on this planet could not have matched).

I’m sure I speak on behalf of the entire WAIP cohort when I say, “Thank you, Katy!” 

With my sincere gratitude,

Erin Yonchak

P.S. Sorry, I don’t have a little John Glenn stress toy to hand to you. This picture will have to do.

My DC Journey

My DC Journey 

When I arrived in Washington, DC I had certain expectations about the benefits of living and interning in the city the summer before my senior year. I knew that it would add to my resume, that I would make professional contacts, and that if I was really lucky I might network my way into a job come graduation. What I did not expect was the personal growth I experienced through this program.

Sure I had interned previously, even staying in Columbus last summer to intern forgoing a breezy summer at home. But that was different because Columbus was another home for me. I had made a network there and had roomies who were also my best friends. Even with all of that I still went home a lot of weekends to see my family, lay by the pool and escape to a safe world when the reality of growing up was too stressful to want to handle.

Washington, DC held none of these things. DC was not another home to me. I did not have a previously established network or friends in the area. I had 13 new roommates many of whom I had never met before. My family was a flight away instead of an afternoon drive. I had a boat load of dreams and goals on my shoulders all which I stated would be completed by the time I returned home.

For many seniors this is something many of us know we will face in one short year. Only I had decided to give myself a sneak preview. I was worried in the beginning. I mean Washington, DC is New York City for public affairs students. This city and the people in it held the key to my hopes and dreams or at least I thought it did.

Through my time in DC and in my internship I learned that no one has that type of power except oneself, unless you let it. I learned that you can always change your mind about what you want to do with your life, and then change in again, and again, because it’s your life.  I learned that the most successful people in life are the ones who do what they love most. I learned that you are always able to create a new network. I learned that you can make any city a home. I learned that Buckeyes are everywhere. Most importantly I learned to choose the path that makes you the happiest and success will follow.

I now know that you learn the most when you go outside of your comfort zone. WAIP has helped to calm the anxiety I faced as a senior realizing that graduation was closing in. After doing this program I now feel confident that I can go out into the workforce, or go to grad school, or move to a totally new city, or all three. It has made me truly excited for that next step after college and for that I am thankful. 

Sincerely,

Maggie Walsh

6 Ways to Conquer the Informational Interview
Mikayla M. Bodey

Informational interviews are, in my opinion, the most important part of the WAIP experience for those planning to return to Washington D.C. after graduation. Here are 6 ways to get the most out of an informational interview:

1. Treat it like a job interview. Whether you know it or not, the person sitting across from you could be your future employer. Always put your best foot forward, dress well, come early, and come prepared.

2. Do your homework. Make it your business to know everything you can find about the person you’re meeting with and their organization. They likely have a biography posted on their website, they may have written a column, or may have a resume posted online. Have about 5 questions prepared to ask them in case the conversation stalls.

3. Arrive early, and buy your coffee or lunch first. There’s nothing more awkward than standing in line with your interviewee while you’re ordering, and inadvertently putting pressure on the interviewee to purchase your drink. Not to mention that they may not want to purchase anything, or could be running late. This gets the purchasing time out of the way so you can get down to business.

4. Always bring a notebook, pen, and business cards. Some informational interviews really throw a lot of information or contacts at you, and you want to be prepared to write it down. It’s also great to exchange cards if you haven’t already.

5. Always send a thank you note. Within a week of your interview, send a thank you note. I personally have Ohio State notes for OSU alumni, and simple cards for others. Talk about something you enjoyed about your interview, and say you look forward to staying connected.

6. Keep a spreadsheet. Record every last detail about your informational interview in a spreadsheet. My contact list includes names, positions, titles, phone numbers, dates and locations of meetings, and a notes section. This will help you remember everyone you interacted with over your time in DC.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to anyone and everyone in the DC area that interests you. Once you get the hang of these interviews, it’ll become one of the most rewarding parts of WAIP.

An Ode to My Favorite Drug: Caffeine

Life in D.C. is crazy, hectic, and exhausting. In between internships, informational interviews, meetings, classes, study tours, and enjoying the sites that D.C. has to offer, sleep as a priority can fall by the wayside. As part of my research for my policy paper, I came across a graph of the most sleep-deprived areas of the country. Which, no shocker, shows that D.C. is one of the most sleep deprived cities in the country.

            As a public health major, I know all the dangers of putting off sleep. Its effects range from more serious health effects like high blood pressure, all the way down to facial wrinkles. But I know that no one ever wishes they slept more in college, especially during a semester in D.C. So naturally, the college student inside of me wins out and I feed my formidable addiction to coffee. It turns out, that D.C. is a coffee drinker’s paradise. So, I will share with you some of my favorite spots that I’ve found so far in my time in D.C. With all these local gems, there truly is no reason to ever enter a Starbucks.

Bakers and Baristas

  

Bakers and Baristas is a charming coffee shop located in the heart of Chinatown, right off of the Chinatown/Gallery Place metro stop. It is replete with delicious, oversized pastries to serve as a companion your latte. In addition to the food, they often also have live music playing in the nook near the entrance. The shop is also connected to a tiny frozen yogurt stand and cupcake shop if you prefer that to the typical coffee shop fair of croissants and scones!

Compass Coffee

Another one of my favorite coffee shops in D.C. is Compass Coffee. Compass Coffee has two locations, the original in the historic Shaw neighborhood and the other located in Chinatown, a bit closer to Capitol Hill. It was founded by two ex-marines who first depended on coffee to get through training, and then upon their return began to turn their addiction into a career, experimenting with different beans to find the ideal blends. Quality coffee is clearly the aim of this duo, and it shows.  In the brand new (one month old) location in Chinatown, there are plenty of tables, plugs, and bright lighting, making it the ideal place to camp out and get some work done!

Kramerbooks and Afterwords

I will admit, my love for this café has more to do with the books than the actual coffee. Kramerbooks and Afterwords is a café and bookstore located near DuPont circle. The bookstore is a gem filled with knowledgeable staff with plenty of recommendations. Unfortunately, there is not much room to sit and read, but browsing is half the fun in this café. An absolute must-see for anyone visiting the city, Kramerbooks and Afterwords cannot be missed.

By Hallie Nudelman

Post-College Inklings

Before moving to Washington, I was sure that this summer was going to be an exciting one. I had decided to apply for WAIP for many reasons, but as I have been living and working in D.C., I have found many more reasons to be happy about my decision to become a WAIP-er than I would have thought. Perhaps the biggest reason is that coming here has allowed me to experience living life in a post-college world without actually having to enter that world full force yet.

                                                   

It has been wonderful to come to a place that seemed so familiar to me, yet was missing much of what makes Columbus, Ohio my home. I have family nearby in Alexandria and Harpers Ferry, but with the schedule of the program and my own interests I knew that I would not see them much, if at all. I came to Washington with no support system, no real friends, and no idea what I would be walking into on my first day of work: I could have easily ended up hating what I was doing or who I was working with. I was entering a city that I believed I knew so well, but really had yet to be known by me at all.

There is the side of D.C. that the tourists tend to see: the glimmering, stoic, regal stature of a city that has long known the light of fame and the influence of power. But there is another side of the city: one that is dark, broken, and full of the malfunctions that plague everywhere else that people reside. It is this latter kind of description that I believe many D.C.-ers find is closer to the reality of where they call home. Consequently, I believe that this understanding is only one that can arise when a person has created a life inside its borders.

Perhaps, the word ‘life’ as it was just used is a bit loaded; by life I most certainly mean establishing (or attempting to establish) all of those things that I need in order to feel like I am home. It is most certainly not just living day to day with a numbness to the passage of time. It is when you have regained a job, a place to relax, a place to go and have fun, a place to lay your head at night, a place to worship, and a group of people whom you willingly call friends that a new ‘life’ might be considered to have been created once more.

For me, it is precisely these things that have helped D.C. become a home for me. However, it is the act of making these things a reality where I had nothing before that is the greatest gift that this program has given me. WAIP has given me the chance to prove to myself that stepping out into the wide-world after OSU is not only possible, but where I am ready to be.

-By: Eric Vinyard

From Class to the House Chamber

From Class to the House Chamber

Adam Grachek

Generally after a day of being at work, the Monday back from a really exciting weekend, the last thing you want to do is go to class. You spend your internship dealing with current politics and events because everything in D.C. revolves around what's happening on Capitol Hill and around the world; it's hard to continue that focus for 3 hours in class too. The material is still really interesting and you're being taught by someone who literally works for the DOJ, this program is truly giving you the best in the field. What's even better is when you can take what you've learned in class and truly see it at play in our government. After multiple discussions on polarization in politics I felt like I truly grasped the idea that Congress at the moment is completely dysfunctional. You have two political parties who can't even listen to each other's perspective, let alone compromise to create legislation that works for both sides. This world is so fast paced, constantly changing, and our government seems like it truly can't keep up with the world in which we live. 

On June 12, 2016, 49 people were gunned down by ISIS sympathizer Omar Mateen; the worst terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11. The grief and outrage of the event were felt by people all over this country, demanding action to help prevent this event from ever happening again. Some people were calling for tougher immigration policy, others calling for more regulations on gun control. Simultaneously, Congress was having the same divisions. On June 22, 2016, House Democrats sat in on the House Chamber floor demanding action be taken on gun violence. With cards permitting access to the House gallery seating, myself and others in WAIP witnessed the entire incident take place. With Republicans and Democrats literally yelling at each other inches away from their faces, there wasn't going to be any compromise made. The conflict between both parties was not only damaging for that night, but damaging for weeks to come. This was real life polarization taking place right before our eyes. 

From learning about polarization in class to actually witnessing the consequences of polarization, the applied educational experience in D.C. I've gained is something that could never be replicated at Ohio State. 

Learning in the Present and Planning for the Future

When I first stepped foot in Washington, DC I was convinced I would be taking the LSAT and applying to law school in the fall. I thought having a knowledge of the law would help me be the best public servant I could be.  Today I have a completely different plan for my future and I can thank the Federal Judicial Center for that, but more specifically my homies on the Pretrial and Probation Services team.

A little background on the FJC for you. The Center was founded as an independent agency within the judiciary by Congress in 1967 to promote improvements in judicial administrations throughout the courts.  The FJC is the research and education agency for the entire federal court system.  And I get to work here. More specifically, I get to work with some of the most passionate and intelligent individuals I have ever met.

Most of the employees in the agency have decades of experience within the criminal justice system.  They have seen it all.  Being able to interact with them, talk to them about their experiences, and help them execute the educational programs they conceive has truly been an eye-opening experience.

About 8 weeks ago, I thought I was going to be one of the many lawyers that wanted to work in public policy after law school.  Today, I want work in the more nitty gritty side of criminal justice, probation.  I want to be a person that has a direct impact on the people this system seems to punish and forget about. 

I have the FJC and my P&P team to thank for helping me find what I am truly passionate about.  The work I do at the FJC has taught me an immense amount of information about how our criminal justice system can be improved.  Along with the people here, I want to have a hand in those improvements, even if it is minuscule in the grand scheme.

Taking advantage of the knowledge and people around you during your time in WAIP is the most important part of the program.  Yes, you need to show up to study tours and write your policy paper but, at the end of the day, my policy paper didn’t get me and informational interview with a Chief Magistrate Judge from the Southern District of Iowa.  My work at the FJC did that and my willingness to be a “yes” intern and help everyone and anyone in my office led me to that opportunity.

So today, as I continue to learn all I can from the people I am surrounded by at the FJC, I am planning a much different future than I thought I would be.  Whether it’s a job in a U.S. Probation Office or graduate school for criminal justice, I know that after graduation the opportunities I have had through WAIP will remain at the forefront of my motivation.  I would say that I am one of the lucky ones in my cohort; one of the ones who found something more than they thought they would, but that would be doing my cohort, and WAIP as whole, a disservice.  WAIP is a program that introduces public service minded students to what real public service is and because of that I can definitively say, all 29 of us are the lucky ones.

--Margaret Gearhart