First Week in Washington, DC

My first week in DC has been a whirlwind of activity. The internship with Congressman Pete Olson (TX-22) started last Monday, July 1.  During the first day, the two other interns in my office and I spent the morning at US Capitol tour training.  During the afternoon, we got acquainted with the computer databases that handle constituent letters, email, and phone calls.  Wednesday was eventful because I got to give my first Capitol tour -- to eleven people. It went really well but there’s just so much history and detail about the Capitol to remember.  

The highlight of last week was getting to see the July 4th celebration in Washington, DC.  In the morning, I watched the Independence Day Parade from the steps of the National Archives.  After relaxing (and cooling down) a bit in the afternoon, I spent the evening watching the Capitol Fourth Concert on the west lawn of the US Capitol.  Some of the performers included Neil Diamond, John Williams, Barry Manilow, Jackie Evancho, and the National Symphony Orchestra.  After the concert, fireworks exploded over the top of the Washington Monument in one of the most spectacular shows I have ever seen. It was definitely one of the best 4th of July’s ever!

I expected the internship to be relatively slow-paced and involve a fair amount of the routine “grunt work” that provide interns job security - cleaning, making coffee, running errands, etc.  And I prepared myself for this -- and to do everything with a great attitude; afterall, living in DC for five weeks is a great opportunity and provides lots of time to explore the city!  Thankfully, all my work so far has been really exciting.  I have already started conducting energy policy research for my office in addition to helping handle correspondence on immigration, gun control, and the recent NSA leak.  This week I will attend my first Congressional Hearing, which happens to be on cybersecurity.  

One great benefit for DC interns is the wide variety of educational events the city offers, particularly in the evenings.  Last night one of the other office interns and I went to a lecture by former CIA Director James Woolsey.  He talked about the national security threats caused by US reliance on foreign fuels and the vulnerability of the current US electrical grids.  It was fascinating.  Today, Texas Senator Ted Cruz shared some of his policy goals and the recent immigration legislation in the Senate.  

Although working in the office has taken up the majority of my time since arriving, there are tons of sights to see in Washington, DC, and I’ve tried to hit up as many of those as possible.  So far there are a few Smithsonians, the Library of Congress, and most of the memorials checked off the list.  

Interning in DC has also made me sooo happy to be here with the Texas Tech program.  The University bought and renovated a building a couple blocks from the Capitol, and it’s fantastic.  Living literally right on the Hill saves so much commute time and money.

My first week on the job has been absolutely incredible, and I cannot wait for another four weeks of this internship!