A Local Government Contractor's Perspective on Washington: The End

A Local Government Contractor's Perspective on Washington:

The End

By: Connor Williams

As the Fall of 2017 is coming to a close, this is a time for reflection not only for myself, but for the other members of the WAIP cohort. For those of us graduating (myself included), we're looking out to where we can set up shop for the immediate future. It has certainly been an interesting ride up to this point, and I have certainly been able to see firsthand the influence of local governance on federal affairs, as my time on Capitol Hill has been very enlightening.

Being able to speak with and listen to Ohioans and Ohio-based advocacy groups has really helped me to understand not only the concerns of the people, but also the effective (and ineffective) ways to bring those concerns to Congress. It's been really interesting seeing what approaches get past the standard filters of the Congressmen and their staff.

Additionally, it's been a real treat seeing the seasons change while here in D.C., as the shifts in the weather and the city's looks and bustle has been unlike what I've seen in Cleveland and Columbus and the seasons here have a unique feel all their own (just like the city in general). Seeing the city change gears for the holiday (and the end of the Congressional year), and everything picking up into high gear.

Garden tour of the White House, late October

As I start my move back to Ohio (and what I felt when I went back to visit over Thanksgiving), I am returning with a newfound perspective on local administration, and administration in general. I am also planning on working on Congressman Renacci's campaign for governor, so I think I'll gain some valuable experience from my time there. Either way, I'm hoping to stay in the political and administration process wherever I can.

15 Essential Items You Need to be a DC YoPro

By: Varsha Challapally

They say that the secret to success is being prepared when opportunity knocks. This applies to a variety of different aspects of life and manifests itself in a variety of ways. One of the components of this philosophy and the secret to being successful in your internship, seminar, and WAIP as a whole, is ensuring that you’re prepared for anything and everything that comes your way. The ~young professionals~ in DC have this figured out and I've tried to learn as much as I can along the way this semester.

Doing everything you can to put yourself in the best possible position when an opportunity you're interested arises is one of they key components of being a successful and functioning adult. While I personally despise the term “adulting” and how it is used in today's society, there is a certain level of preparedness that one must have to be a functional human and succeed in WAIP. 

To always ensure I have what I need to take on the day, here’s what I typically carry in my bag to be prepared and ready to go at all times:

iPhone: You gotta stay #connected and ~in tune~ with the most recent current events, be able to connect with other people and get your Washington Post news notifications as they occur!

ID badge:  Nothing’s worse than being that intern who forgets their badge that lets them into their building. I try to always keep mine in my wallet and only take it out when I need to use it, so it doesn’t get misplaced.

Phone Charger: Nothing makes me more anxious than having a low battery percentage on my phone when i’m navigating a brand new area that I don’t know very well. Having a phone charger always on hand is an essential and something that will help you be prepared and ready to go no matter what.

Business Cards: You never know when a potential networking opportunity will arise. I’ve gotten to meet some amazing people though my internship or at a policy salon during the week and having business cards handy is incredibly important. WAIP provides you with excellent business cards so be sure to put them to good use! 

Water Bottle + Snack: Some days in WAIP often begin at 7 in the morning and sometimes end with me getting home after 10pm. So, it’s important to stay healthy and hydrated to ensure that you can do everything that’s expected of you and have the best experience possible. 

Hand Sanitizer: Let’s be honest, the metro gets a little...icky sometimes. I always try to carry hand sanitizer with me for use after getting off the metro. Being sick is never fun, especially when you have to work 32 hours a week, attend study tours, seminars, policy salons and informational interviews like you have to do in WAIP, so it’s best to take as many preventative measures as possible. 

Advil: For those impromptu aches and pains that happen in life. 

Small Notebook + Pen: My Moleskine notebook has been absolutely indispensable for me throughout WAIP. I have taken notes of things I found to be interesting, quotes, pieces of advice from WAIP policy salons, and my research and key takeaways from informational interviews I have had. If there’s one thing I recommend, it’s to keep a notebook and pen with you at all times - you never know what you might want to write down.

Headphones: How else are you going to listen to NPR’s Up First on your morning commute? Whether you listen to podcasts or music in the morning, headphones are a must have. Especially if you have a long commute to work and want to avoid sitting in silence and occasionally making awkward eye contact with the strangers around you on the Metro. 

House Keys: There will always be someone in your WAIP cohort who posts in the Groupme asking to be let in the house because they forgot their key - don’t be that person :) 

Sunglasses: Protect your peepers from those UV rays!

Wallet + Metrocard: An absolute essential at any given time. Make sure you register your Metrocard right when you receive it, so you can get the money on it back in the event the card gets misplaced.

Tide to Go: Having a Tide to Go pen in my purse at all times has saved me from potentially debilitating stains on some of my favorite clothing. Additionally, having a visible stain on your shirt isn’t cute and doesn’t look #YoPro. Pro-tip: the longer you let a stain sit, the harder it is to get out.

Laptop/iPad + Respective Chargers: I would sometimes bring my iPad to class to take notes, depending on the topic we were discussing. While WAIP seminar is largely discussion based and usually doesn’t require taking notes, many of the topics we discuss will be useful to remember when writing your policy paper.

Chapstick/Mints/Gum: Who doesn’t want to be wintergreen or minty fresh when talking to others?

Hopefully this helps someone! WAIP goes by so fast and equips you with incredible experiences and skills. Being prepared for anything that comes your way is a great first step to take to ensure you're able to take full advantage of the amazing things to come! 

                                     Here's a look into some of the things I mentioned in my post!

Comparing and Contrasting DC and New York

By: Gemma Bush

Over Thanksgiving break, rather than heading back home to Ohio, one of my WAIP roommates and I decided to head to New York and spend a couple of days seeing the Big Apple! I had never been to New York before, and I had a lot of fun. One of the many perks of being in DC is that cool cities like New York and Philly are only a relatively short bus ride away, whereas in Columbus they'd be much less accessible.

View from top of empire state building in NYC

Read on for my take on DC vs. NYC!

Food:

Both DC and New York have a ton of great food. I would say that DC seems a little heavier on chains, whereas in New York you'll see a lot of singular little restaurants, though both of them have some of each, of course. New York's Chinatown is a lot bigger and more intense, and you can find more amazing Chinese food in New York in general than you can in DC. New York is also the place for amazing bagels, great New York pizza, and delis that tend to serve giant piles of meat between two slices of bread with nothing else on the sandwich. The first two are delicious. The latter is frankly weird. DC is more the place for great Ethiopian food, and really yummy chains that you can't find in Ohio, like Roti, Sweet Green, Shake Shack, and many more. 

Public transportation:

In a contest between the DC metro and the New York subway, I'd say that the metro wins hands down. Metro stations AND trains are newer, cleaner, and better smelling than those of the subway! And that makes a big difference in overall appeal. Also, the metro is much better staffed as far as someone being around to help you at each station if something goes wrong with your card. When we were using the subway in New York, things kept going wrong with my roommates' card and there was never ANYONE around to help. There's just no staff at a lot of the stations, only machines. Also, interestingly, the subway is much shallower than the metro (meaning the metro is much deeper underground.) This is because in DC buildings can't be taller than the Washington monument, so they often have to build down, forming extensive basement sections. In New York, they don't have that going on, and can just build skyscrapers and have a shallow subway. 

Weather:

New York is MUCH COLDER than DC, between the fact that it's further north and the fact that being among the tall buildings mean you get like three hours of actually being in the sun as opposed to the shade per day. If you go there for a weekend, bundle up!

Overall atmosphere: 

I'd say that DC is less overwhelming, but New York is more fun. New York was a blast for the three nights I was there, but at the end of the trip I was honestly ready to head back to my "quiet little" DC. New York is just so crazy! People yelling and lights flashing all the time, never knowing if the next block is going to smell like yummy food or trash, and people dressed in all sorts of zany fashions. But you can't see a Broadway show in DC (not ON Broadway, at least), and you can't get authentic New York bagels, or see Macy's at Christmastime, or Times Square, or go to the top of the Empire State Building. For me, New York is a lot of fun for a weekend, but DC is a more sustainable place to live. 

What going home to Ohio taught me about D.C.

What going home to Ohio taught me about D.C.
By Abby Vesoulis

My time as a John Glenn Fellow in the Washington Academic Internship Program is coming to an end in less than three weeks. I had the blessing of going home to Columbus, Ohio for Thanksgiving – it was the first time I had been back all semester, and the only time I got to see my college friends in months. I was looking forward to it for days, maybe even weeks.

While it a was a much needed break from the stresses of writing a 25-page research paper and working close to full-time at my internship, I was eager to head back to the District by Sunday morning. I think that’s because D.C. is becoming what I think of as “home.”

Already, some friends and I have begun searching for apartments to move into and jobs to apply to. We love D.C.’s young and excited spirit, its array of food choices and its uniqueness. I love that most of its inhabitants moved here to try making a difference. Though it may be a town divided by red and blue, people who care about one side of the aisle have more in common with their opponents than with anyone who generally doesn’t care.

Being reunited with Wings Over, my sorority sisters, my parents and my pup were essential to finishing out this semester strong, but those things also reminded me that Columbus, Ohio is only one component of my life. While I will always be excited to be back with those gems, there is no reason for me to live anywhere other than D.C. when I graduate.

Columbus will always be there to welcome me back, but hopefully for only a weekend or week at a time.

Pictured: My dog, Albus Dumbledog

Give yourself an extra time to reflect

On November 3, 2017, I was given a second chance to revisit the Independence Hall, where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted. Although I have been to Philadelphia numerous of times before, this visit was different, I wasn’t with my husband and two kids, I was with my young fellow WIAPers.

As I listened to the narrative of the events that led to the establishment of the two most important American documents for the second time, I realized that the person I am at that moment is not the same person I was when I first heard the narration. This time I was different, I was informed, and my mind was now politically engaged and sympathetic to the patience and collaboration of each individual person that was there debating, creating, and adopting the collections of words that the American people hold dear and valued the most today.

post and picture by Grace Mercado

While I stood looking out of the same window frame that the Founding Fathers possibly looked out from over two centuries ago, I understood at that moment of how vital it was for them to find a common ground to collaborate and collect the fundamental words that played important opportunities for the future of America.

I don’t doubt that they would be proud to witness the significant changes, innovation, and the continuous strive for a better tomorrow, that we hold the same value they can only have imagined witnessing outside this building’s window.  

The smiles, the interaction between many racial diversities, and different walks of life, looking and taking pictures of the building I was in, would have been an amazing sight to see for our Founding Fathers. And although not all of them agreed with each other, they all believed in what was put in the United State Constitution:

“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America” (Preamble of the U.S. Constitution).

To conclude, It was within those moments I became convinced that giving yourself (myself) an extra time to reflect, especially if it’s not the first time, the chance to learn or to realize something new. From that moment on, I was more humbled, blessed and thankful than ever before. I wonder what new reflection I will gain the next time I go back.

Grace’s Blog on Comfort zone

As a risk taker and an adventurer, I have always welcomed agitation of thoughts and ideas. As much as I like to be assertive, I’m a firm believer that one cannot know what they can handle until they have bare themselves to the opposite side.  During my time at WAIP, I have embraced this philosophy. Living with young individuals with different mindsets than mine can be at times challenging.  Through our discussion of opposing topics, and engaging in the uncertainty of outcomes to our decisions, we have allowed ourselves to become more aware of our thoughts, opinions, and ideas.

For the past seven weeks, I have stepped away from the comfortable life of being a spouse and my motherly duties to join and live with fellow Buckeye students in order to become a Washingtonian. I assume that I  am the first WAIP student to participate in this program that has a husband and two kids who are eagerly waiting for my return. In contrast, none of my housemates have any obligations to marriage and raising children.  Therefore, for most of them, this is their opportunity to see if they can survive the hustle and bustle of our State Capitol area, to build networking relationships with both governmental and non-governmental agencies, in order to find their professional career path after college. Many are motivated, some are determined and others are hopeful. As for me, I’m simply trying to identify my strengths and weaknesses, like and dislike in the field of Public Servant.

Furthermore, I thought by having a background in the medical and financial field, it would help me prepare for the uneasiness of politics, policies, and public servant. In retrospect, it did not. I had always thought that my past experiences, passion for policy and public management, along with my academic will be enough to lessen the tension of disagreeing my beliefs in policies and governance. I was told otherwise.  My involvements in accounting led me to the mindset that money drives decision making in all aspects of societies want and needs.   I came to realize that this is not necessarily true.  During one of our past weekly group discussion, I  was challenged by my housemates on this specific idea own idea and belief. However, I realized after the 3rd weekly discussion, they weren’t testing or agitating my standpoint or my ability to handle their point of view.  They were just debating a different part of the policy argument as a whole. For example, I worry about the cost constraint of the policy to the taxpayers; while they are worried about what ought to be in the policy.

Moreover,  I knew my choice to apply into WAIP was going to expose me to great opportunities. I never imagined that one opportunity would challenge my fear, my willpower, and my reasons. The 2-hour drive to see 43 giant presidential heads was a last minute trip decision with my roommates. Although it stated, “online” that the property where the busts were located is permanently closed, yet there was a lot of recent Instagram posts of them. Therefore, we took the risk and hoped to see the busts anyway. Arriving in the long private driveway, my roommates discussed who should get out and ask for permission to see the busts. Of course, I ended up doing the deed and was unfortunately unsuccessful at getting the approval from the owner. However, before I returned back into my car, I asked the owner if there was any other way to view the busts. She pointed out that the only way was to go through a swampy forest and a land mine-like-dirt path. In addition, she warned me that there were cameras everywhere. Disappointed and irritated, my roommates discussed the next course of action while I pumped gas into my car. As I waited for the gas pump to stop, I looked at Google’s satellite image and saw the possible route the owner told me. Promptly, I shared my finding and my roommates decided to check it out the unmarked path. Parked on the side of the road, 2 members got out to search for a path in the forest like area.  They suggested that I should check it out since I seem to know my direction better and I can run faster than them.  Indecisive, fearful of snakes, and uncomfortable of the uncertainty, I and one of my roommate push forward and rushed into the wood. Fearful to encounter snakes, rubbing against an endless field of poison oats, sweaty and avoiding sinking into muds, my determination and motivated was at the forefront. After 20 minutes and a break from the wooded area, I saw my favorite president’s head from the distance,  President Abraham Lincoln, a welcoming excitement! 

Swiftly, we took pictures while keeping our voices down and eyes open, then we ran back toward the car.

Lastly, through WAIP, I have learned that living with young individuals with different priorities than mine makes little difference in creating or achieving a professional goal. That we are all willing to give up and work hard for a better future.  In addition, discussing opposing topics with my housemate helps create a better communication and comprehension of our diverse understanding.  Engaging in uncertainty is what drives this country and for its people to have a better tomorrow than yesterday. I have learned that being comfortable is not always the safe bet nor the best philosophy. Frederick Douglas’s advised a young man who waited for him outside his home for an advice and all Mr. Douglas said was the word “agitate”.  I believe such advice should be applied to every endeavor in life, in order to make or accept change. Therefore, I want to end this blog with an encouragement to agitate your comfort, for you will learn more about yourself and others.  

A Local Government Contractor's Perspective on Washington: The Halfway Point

A Local Government Contractor's Perspective on Washington:

The Halfway Point

By: Connor Williams

The rest of the Fall 2017 WAIP cohort and myself are about six, seven weeks into our time here in the the nation's capital and everyone is having invaluable experiences. For me, it's been an interesting perspective, since my main motivation for being in D.C. is to see policy development on the federal level in contrast to that of towns and cities. The time I have spent as a contractor and volunteers for a few Cleveland area communities and the city of Columbus has made me familiar with local administration and policymaking, and the issues of local people and their governments, and I wanted to see how local issues translate to the national stage.

It has been interesting to see that governance, when scaled up, is very much what I expected it to be: smart, competent individuals attempting to address long-term, constitutionally impactful problems while constantly juggling everyday national events (and everyday constituent concerns) that divert their time and energy. Essentially, there is always something gumming up the gears of pragmatic lawmaking and statecraft. Like I've seen on the job or discussed in our policy seminars, national governance is hard. This comes as no surprise to me, considering my background. But, many of the ideas produced, and often shelved, in service to solving national problems are often extremely valuable to local administrators, who aren't in possession of the sheer talent, ability, and resources at the disposal of Congress and the Supreme Court and the network of federal agencies that work with and advise them.

The environment of D.C. itself is a forge of metropolitan cultural and societal innovation very much like how its institutions are forges of ideas. The city itself is defined by a vague sense of directed momentum that gives it life in a way different to the wholesale chaos of downtown Manhattan or Los Angeles, and it's fascinating being in an climate such as this. It's not so much the surreality of living so close to the fanciful buildings dotted around Capitol Hill and the National Mall, but moreso the fact that the older, non-gentrified, urban neighborhoods share this nebulous air of purpose.

A view from the west side of the Capitol at sunrise. Pretty invigorating, no?

As someone who is very tied to the environs and conditions of suburbs and relatively contained urban sprawl of the Midwest, it's strange that I think it's very hard to feel "at ease" here. It's not so much that it's tense here nor does it make me feel unsafe, homesick, or anything of the sort, it's just a city where I can't really stop to smell the flowers. I had not felt this way when I had spent time in New York City, Boston, San Francisco, Cleveland, or Philadelphia, so D.C. makes for a really interesting, albeit not necessarily ideal, place for me to live temporarily.

Overall, while I have been learning a lot and enjoying the best of what the public sector has to offer, and learning more about what makes good governance, I have been rather surprised how I have been influenced by the atmosphere of Washington. I am not sure how this will affect me on the move back to Ohio, and back into the sphere of local administration, but only time will tell. 

What I learned in boating school is...

Study tours are among the best experiences in WAIP. However, if I'm being honest, I didn't expect to learn as much as I did from some. The Library of Congress is a good example. I've been there several times in the past and I've seen the exhibits. I assumed the tour would cover some easily searchable facts about the amount of books maintained by the library, and what exhibits were currently on display. That assumption was wrong.

In the Library of Congress there are an exorbitant amount of details and motifs that likely go missed by most visitors. There are names and statues all throughout the great hall that celebrate individuals who contributed to art, science, and literature. There are cherubs that line the steps that represent occupations of American life, as well as the different continents of the world. There are paintings that trace the evolution of writing and the evolution of government. There are pillars that represent the pillars of society. Moreover, our awesome docent explained the story behind the materials used, blemishes in the building, and the history of the building's construction. It's a spectacular building.

All of this is to say that you may think you appreciate the history of something, but you'll discover there's a lot more to learn than you expected. All it takes is the willingness to ask questions and to listen.

-Gabe Giddens

3 Tips on how to get the most out of your WAIP experience!

3 Tips on how to get the most out of your WAIP experience!

By: Mycheala Holley

Although I am only 6 weeks into my WAIP experience I would like to share 3 things that I either wish I would have done before I arrived to D.C. or things that I have learned during my time here in D.C.. 

1. Research Before You Arrive!

Research Research Research! That is one thing that I wish I would have done more of before arriving to D.C.. I wish that I would have researched different organizations, other than the organizations that I had applied to intern with, who also have a common interest and passion in the career paths that I am interested in. Throughout my time here in D.C. I have been pleasantly surprised by how nice and supportive everyone in this city has been. If I had known how willing everyone here would be to meet with me and to help me in any way that they could I would have done a lot more research and prepared a list of people who I definitely wanted to meet with during my time here.

2. Get to know the other interns!

At the start of my WAIP semester I was very focused on meeting and networking with people who were already established in the fields that I am interested in. Then, a few weeks into the program I realized that I was overlooking the very people that I spent most of my time with. Whether that had been my fellow WAIP members or the interns within my division at work; I had failed to see the importance of getting to know them as well. I am very happy that I realized that I can learn just as much from them as I can learn from anyone else throughout this experience. During this program you will be surrounded by incredibly smart and passionate people and I encourage you to take the time to get to know them and to keep in touch with them just as you would with someone who is established in your related career field. You all are undoubtedly going to be very successful and you all have more in common than you may originally think. I urge you to take full advantage of networking with them as well during your time here!

3. Manage your time effectively but don't kill yourself!

My final piece of advice would be to manage your time efficiently. As you may know, D.C. is a very fast paced environment and you may at times feel incredibly overwhelmed but everything will be okay! There are so many things to do here and so many people that you may want to meet but you have to find a balance. Fortunately, D.C. is really great for having events where you can do both of these things! I had the opportunity to attend the Congressional Black Caucuses Annual Legislative Conference and it was absolutely amazing! I was able to attend informational panels and discussions during the day, mostly hosted by U.S. Senators, and at night they had networking happy hours and events such as bowling, skating, dinners, etc. This was a fantastic way for me to not only expand my network but also to enjoy myself and relax! Furthermore, if you are a home person like me, being able to network and have fun with friends at the same time gave me more time to relax at home in my bed! 

Me at a networking event at the Lucky Strike Bowling Ally
Hosted by the Black Professional Homecoming

As you can see, it does not take a long time for D.C. to make a dramatic impact on your life. Whether this city impacts your life personally, professionally, mentally, physically or all of the above, I honestly don't see how anyone could ever regret this amazing experience. I have only lived in D.C. for 6 weeks and I have already learned and developed so much. I am very excited to see what the next 8 weeks will bring me!

4 Ways to Save Money in DC

By Gemma Bush

Being in the nation's capital is an absolute blast, but it can be a little hard on the old wallet. As we all know, the bigger the city, the more expensive the cost of living, and DC is no exception. As Katy says, when we're back in Columbus everything will seem nice and cheap in comparison. But until then, here are four tried and true tips for saving green in DC.

1. Don't go overboard with eating out.
There are SO many amazing restaurants in this city that the temptation to splurge on eating out is near constant. I'd definitely recommend sampling as much of this city's delicious cuisine as possible, as a lot of dining options that aren't as readily available in Columbus are all over here. That said, eating out can be one of the biggest drains on your bank account while in DC, so it makes sense to limit it where possible. Pack your lunch when going to work rather than going out to lunch. Buy groceries and cook at home most week nights. Then, maybe you can treat yourself to brunch with your fellow WAIPers on Saturday.

2. Take the metro.
Generally, taking the metro rather than Ubering or Lyfting can save you a ton of money. However, it does depend on how far you're going, and how many people you're sharing an Uber with. If you're sharing an Uber with like four people, sometimes that can be cheaper per person than taking the metro. So, just be conscious of it. Walking is the cheapest option of all, and it's good exercise, too!

3. Take advantage of free activities
Having a fun and entertaining stay in DC can be very cheap or very expensive, depending on what you decide to do. Sometimes the free activities and sights in this city can be just as much fun as the ones you have to dole out a boatload of cash for. A Saturday spent at the Smithsonians and a night spent walking the monuments costs zero dollars, whereas going to the mall, the movies and a bar for instance on a Saturday might cost $50 or $60.

4. Be smart about going home
If you fly home for the weekend like four times over the course of the semester, that's going to seriously add up in terms of cost. Not to mention, you don't want to waste your WAIP semester by spending too much time back in Ohio. Consider planning visit about half way or three quarters through the semester -- it'll give you something to look forward to.