Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.

-       Harriet Tubman

After getting a little too excited about the news that Harriet Tubman would be replacing President Jackson as the face of the $20 bill (yes, this is what living in D.C. has done to me), I was doing some research into her life story and came across this quote. Her words struck me, in part because they’re so beautiful, in part because I’m a really sappy person, and in part because they made me think of the inspirational people I’ve met in my short time living in this city (see? really sappy).

I should say first that D.C. is amazing. WAIP study tours have taken us to NASA, the White House, the Library of Congress, Frederick Douglass’ house, and the Washington Monument – and those are just a handful of my favorites. In my free time, I’ve gotten a chance to visit museum favorites like the National Gallery, the Renwick, and the Postal Museum; I’ve explored the Waterfront area, biked to Mount Vernon and Great Falls, browsed through the eccentric Capitol Hill Books, fueled my tapas fanaticism (Turkish are my favorite - I recommend Zaytinya if you’re not paying, and Ezme if you are J), had a way-too-fancy-for-how-little-is-in-my-wallet Sunday brunch at Iron Gate, ran along the C&O Canal, walked around DuPont in the middle of a blizzard, attended an event at the Supreme Court with Justice Ginsburg, rooted for D.C. United in RFK Stadium, and sat on the steps of the Jefferson at midnight (my D.C. favorite – it’s a little bit magical when the whole city empties out and all of our country’s most celebrated monuments are left there, just for you).

There’s a lot to do here!  Thankfully, D.C. is filled with amazing coffee shops so you can sleep less and do more in between work, policy papers, informational interviews, and class-time. I knew I would grow from WAIP: that I would develop professional skills, learn better time management, gain a better grasp of the kind of career I could see myself having, become a better writer and researcher through my work at a nonprofit, and just generally get to know myself better.

For some reason, though, I never really imagined how much the people in this city would change me. D.C. is full of dreamers who have turned into doers, and it’s the conversations I’ve had more than the things I’ve done and the places I’ve gone that have opened my mind and taught me more about myself. At work, I’ve learned from my two supervisors who have had so much guidance to impart about gaining confidence and assertiveness in professional environments. With my mentor, I’ve discussed the importance of having determination but also letting yourself do crazy things sometimes. I’ve met an engineer working on the Waterfront development project who lives in North Carolina and learned that sometimes chasing your passion means a REALLY long commute. Talking to women involved in the push to get a Women’s History Museum on the mall made me see what it means to dedicate your time to an issue you care about.

But it’s not just the people I’ve met at work, during policy salons, or while doing informational interviews that have given me valuable insights. The rideshare drivers I’ve had over the past four months have taken me by surprise with how much they’ve taught me: I’ve gotten everything from restaurant recommendations to relationship advice, offers to help me start my career, insights about the future of the tech industry and basically humanity altogether (AI is scary!!), a lesson about the importance of family from Russian gentleman trying to move his parents to America, and a story of determination from a guy and his wife who quit their jobs to follow their dreams of starting their own businesses – they do rideshare and pass out business cards (him for his consulting practice, her for her floral decoration and event planning company). The OSU alumni I’ve met here have really hit it home for me how important it is to pay it forward and help the next generation. WAIP has shown me that even at a young age people can be so incredibly passionate about a diverse variety of interests and be willing to leave what’s fun and easy in Columbus to chase their dreams; everyone who goes through this process is a dreamer and a doer, and I've learned so much from them. 

I’m so fortunate to have had so many life lessons and personal realizations during my time here - sometimes I think the scariest but most important thing I've learned is that there's still so much learning and growing to do. But whether my future leads me back here or someplace far away, I know that I'll be okay as long as I listen to Harriet Tubman's words and have the patience, strength, and passion to follow my dreams, and always surround myself with people who do too. 

- Maria Vlasie

"These Are a Few of My Favorite Things"

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Bright cooper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Brown paper packages tied up with strings. These are a few of my favorite things!" -Julia Andrews in The Sound of Music

Much like Maria going to stay with the von Trapp family in The Sound of Music, I came into a whole new world coming to DC. And I am extremely grateful for the chance I had to live in our nation's capital. This past semester was filled with many memories that I will always carry with me. My WAIP experience gave me a lot of things that were my favorite, but here are a few of them.  And while they don't include raindrops, kittens, kettles, mittens or brown paper packages, they still helped me to have an unforgettable DC experience! 

1.) The Cupcake Scene:

I am an avid lover of cupcakes, and DC's cupcake scene was one of the best ways to indulge in this love. Chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter, strawberry, any way you make it, I will love it! (* there is an exception with carrot cake, that I will never love). As a result, I conducted somewhat of an informal experiment during my 15 weeks here, trying to find which cupcake place in DC offered me the best cupcake. My experiment was controlled, I had the same flavor at every cupcake place I tried- peanut butter and chocolate. After numerous trials, my personal favorite was Baked and Wired in Georgetown because of the high-quality cake, but Georgetown Cupcake came in at a close second due to their excellent ratio of cake to frosting. But, I will note, I never had a bad cupcake at any cupcake place I tried! 

2.) Having DC as Your Backyard:

I cannot emphasize enough how cool it is to live in DC. The amount of history here is incredible and being able to hop on the metro, walk, bike or Uber to all of the amazing places DC has to experience is beyond wonderful. This city is so diverse and each of its neighborhoods is unique in its own way. In addition, you cannot beat the location of the house during WAIP. Having the National Mall, Capitol and Supreme Court as your backyard is surreal, and I highly encourage you to take advantage of this by going to see the monuments at night! 

3.) Learning More About Yourself:

Coming into WAIP, you get a somewhat good idea of what to expect. Sure there are nerves and a little bits of the unknown, but you generally know what your week will typically look like, where you are interning, where you are living, etc. However, I didn't expect to learn so much about myself. Living outside of Ohio for the first time, getting to choose my internship site and working there for three months, getting to do a lengthy policy paper on a topic I picked and other things helped me to get a much better idea of who I am as a person. I came into a whole new world in DC, but this, in return, helped me to grow. 

4.) TAPAS TAPAS TAPAS TAPAS TAPAS: 

Five letters, but so amazing. I will admit, coming to DC I had no idea what tapas were (in case you don't either: they are cuisine appetizers that you order a bunch of and share!)  But luckily I was paired with a roommate who loves them! And lucky for both of us, DC loves tapas. While tapas exist outside of DC, I will surely miss the deep love of tapas that DC yields. 

5.) Seeing Everyone's Different Passions: 

No person is the exact same as another person, and this was one of my favorite parts of living in and experiencing DC. When you talk to different people, they have different things that really drive them. Different passions.While for some it may be education, others it may be defense, others science innovation. Whatever the passion may be, it is so wonderful to see how different passions come together to make up this city and that person's career. 

6.) Teddy Roosevelt Island: 

This, in my mind, is one of DC's best kept secrets. Whenever you need a break from the city life of DC and/or need a little nature in your life, go see Teddy Roosevelt Island. 

7.) The Ohio Love. 

I am biased: I think Ohio is one of the best states to be from. But coming to DC and seeing the amazing Ohio and Ohio State networks that makes up this city only solidified my biased. While you may be six hours away from Ohio, it is never all that hard to meet a fellow Ohioan. You may be at Union Station or the National Gallery and all the sudden, you see those familiar scarlet and gray colors on a shirt. In addition, the amount of Ohio related things in DC is wonderful! The Ohio Birthday Party (which includes a Ohio Birthday Cake), the Scarlet and Gray brunch, meeting some wonderful alumni doing some pretty amazing things, talking with both Senators about how they are connected to The Ohio State University, getting to have a mentor that is an Ohio State alum, and many other things all contribute to help keep the Ohio love strong in our nation's capital. O-H! 

While my list of my favorite things could go on, these are just a few! While my time in DC is coming to end, I'm excited to know that someone else's is just about to begin, and that they too can start their own list of their favorite things! 

-Claire 

Back to the Present

A couple of weeks ago I had a chat with my pal Cormac about our internships, summer plans, future plans to run away together and spend our lives sailing the pacific, and life in general. Cormac is interning at the White House this semester, and I am also having the most meaningful internship experience I've had to date. But as we were talking, we noticed that we consistently talked about the future as if it is so much brighter than the lives we are leading now. Whether it was with our upcoming summer internships, grad school, getting lost at sea, or our future careers, we recognized that we have terrible habits of only looking forward instead of appreciating and making the most of the incredible things we are spending our time on here and now.

I realize that constantly trying to figure out next steps in life and maintaining boundless optimism for the future are all part of the normal college experience. But one lesson I'm starting to learn is that if I am always looking forward, it becomes extremely difficult to stay focused on the things I need to work on now to actually achieve those future goals. Even worse, the future orientation creates a major distraction from appreciating and finding satisfaction with where I am in life here and now.

So here's my WAIP advice in a nutshell:

Take a step back. Recognize that you're doing some damn cool things with your life right now. Spend less time worrying about what's coming next, and more time worrying about what you're doing today.

Adam White

Take a Chill Pill

by Daniel Griffith

It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Washington, D.C., trust me. One moment your parents are helping you move all of your stuff into your new room, and before you even have a chance to catch your breath you’re already packing up again. I spent most of my time in D.C. trapped in the mindset that if I was unable to find another internship, unable prove that I was competent enough for this city, then the entire program was a waste. THIS IS NOT TRUE. The second you calm down and let things happen, THE WAY THEY SHOULD, everything will start going your way. Breathe, meditate, stress eat, go to happy hour, binge watch Netflix I really don’t care what your vice is, but have something that will keep you calm and grounded. Something that you can come home to every night and be thankful for. This place can consume you and your thoughts, but the people who benefit the most from WAIP don’t let it. They stay in control.

Another point that goes along with this idea of letting things happen, is not lying to yourself. Don’t think that just because you have the internship you do, that you have to love it. You don’t! That is exactly why this is a learning experience. We are here to find out what we do like, and quite frankly what we don’t. Don’t be afraid to not like something, especially at work because your supervisor can tell immediately. This is the one case where “fake it till you make it” is not a motto you want to adopt. Be yourself, know yourself, and keep on making yourself happy. And when you're finally happy you'll be surprised with what might happen. 

My DC Story

David Weinraub

My DC Story

            As my time in DC comes to a close, I find this to be the perfect time to reflect on all of things that I have accomplished and learned over these past fifteen weeks. Let me start by saying that it boggles my mind how quickly this semester flew by and frankly that is because my semester here in DC as part of the WAIP program was a once in a lifetime experience that I would not trade for anything. That said, I’d like to take you on an overview of my time in DC and give you some tips on how to have the best possible semester.

             I started out as student who was very aware of what I wanted to do and even had a decent grasp of how I wanted to get there, but I found transitioning from full time student to full time professional was the hard part. Luckily that was something my internship at the Council for Court Excellence was able to help me with; they were able to provide me a substantial workday that allowed me to grow as a professional. Whether it was writing up minutes or actually writing up reports that would be published, I was always learning something new, and that is exactly what I wanted from my time here. The same thing goes for the coffees that I had with nine amazing people who gave me a million new ideas on how to achieve my goals. This leads me to the first recommendation for future WAIPers, always be willing to listen, learn, and adjust because if you are willing to do all three of these things not only will DC change your life but you will also be able to handle anything that comes your way. 

            Of course, not everything in DC was about work; there were plenty of opportunities for fun and exploring the city. The trick was that you had to find the time to do it, time management was a huge part of my learning experience here in DC.  I found myself juggling work and work commitments, school, contact meetings and a social life.  Learning how to achieve a balance was one of the best skills I acquired from my participation in the WAIP program.  From study tours that took me everywhere from the Pentagon to the State Department to weekends of exploring and going to basketball games, baseball games, museums, waterfronts, plus so many other places too numerous to list. I was able to do all of these things plus go to the gym for a couple of hours at least five days a week, go to work, go to class, and do the work for class because of the skills provided to me by being part of the WAIP program.  Now this is the part where I tell you that in DC, there are many things to do and it may be overwhelming at times but with proper time management and a strong work ethic, it can be done. I wake up every morning around six and take that time to relax so that when I come home late at night I can work a little bit on my assignments. In addition on the weekends, I’m not averse to just sitting down for a few hours and getting ahead in my coursework to ensure that I am never waiting until the last minute to finish an assignment. All of this worked very well for me and I never really felt too overwhelmed by all the work, and my recommendation for future WAIP participants is to manage your time wisely, do not procrastinate, do the work, and get it done so that you are free to do the things that you want to when you want to.

            Overall, my semester in DC was great and I have gained an immense amount of life experience from being here. I have been able to grow professionally, personally and have been able to develop even better working habits. My final advice to future WAIPers is to embrace your time in the District. Do everything that you want to do and let nothing stop you, shoot for the stars, and do everything in your power to reach them. Most importantly do not go home with any regrets because as I said earlier, this is a once in a lifetime chance. So enjoy the next semester.  It will be an amazing experience that you will always be able to look back on as something that defined your life, good luck. 

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