Letter from the Washington Interns

Greetings from the nation’s capital! With the end of the term in sight, we thought we would share a little bit about spring in D.C.The day-to-day life of an intern on the Hill varies greatly. If it’s a slow day in the office, we may answer phones, take down constituent concerns and greet incoming meetings.On busy days, we might give a tour of the Capitol building, attend a Committee hearing or run around the office buildings obtaining signatures for an appropriations letter. Each office gives their interns slightly different responsibilities, but overall, we are here to help the staff while learning about the inner workings of Congress. Sometimes we attend briefings, where staffers and members are informed on a specific topic. So far, we've sat in on briefings about reproduction rights, emergency preparedness, atmospheric rivers, the minimum wage and much more. Often, a legislative staffer asks us to research issues, take notes at briefings, and sometimes even brief our representative before floor votes. It’s incredible to be working in the same space as high-profile congressional leaders: a number of us have rushed about the Capitol building, only to brush past Paul Ryan while exiting the elevator or spot Nancy Pelosi on the House floor. Even interacting with concerned constituents can be a great experience because it truly feels like we’re helping to facilitate the democratic process.Each week, we get the opportunity to meet with Exeter alums and parents who work in the government or politics. These seminars have demonstrated the extremely wide range of ways that one can pursue a career in these areas.We have met with former politicians, law enforcement specialists, journalists, human rights advocates and even a leader in the White House National Security Council. We’ve gotten to see the White House West Wing, Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the Secret Service Headquarters and the sleek office of the UN Foundation. Some of our favorite speakers include former senator Tim Wirth, NY Times Supreme Court Correspondent Adam Liptak, and Jeff Eggers, the President’s Senior Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan. FBI special agent Jeff Bedford brought along a powerpoint of crime scene photos to teach us about his job on the Evidence Response Team, and we got a first hand look at the Secret Service’s fingerprint lab with explanation from their leading handwriting analyst. The seminars have been a great way to learn more about the political world and meet some truly inspiring Exonians!As you might have expected, free time outside of work and seminars can get pretty busy, too. One of the most valuable aspects of the Washington Intern Program has been living in a city as steeped in history and culture as Washington, D.C. On warm nights, we take walks around Capitol Hill in the shadow of the Capitol Dome, Library of Congress and Washington Monument. On weekends, we get out of the hotel bright and early to peruse the wares at the bustling farmers’ market down the street, before hopping on the Metro to explore museums and neighborhoods around the city.D.C. is home to the 19 Smithsonian museums, of which we have seen the museums of American Art, Air and Space, Natural History and Native American History.Perhaps most rewarding about moving from a sleepy New England town to an urban hub has been the explosion in dining options. We frequent D.C. favorites such as Goodstuff (home of the President Obama burger), We the Pizza, and Amsterdam Falafel for quick bites after long days of museum-hopping and Sunday mornings will often find part of our group enjoying a leisurely brunch at Founding Farmers.Exeter alums living in D.C. have also been so kind as to host us for backyard barbecues, where we’ve played with adorable children, laughed about senior pranks, and connected over common threads between our respective Exeter experiences.Additionally, staffers in our Congressional offices have extended invitations to us for Nats games, Embassy Open House events, 5K runs and even fun Scrabble games in Virginia.As interns, we enjoy a perfectly refreshing balance between work and play, with busy days at the office offset by nights and weekends spent connecting with each other and exploring the city—an overall experience that has been nothing short of unforgettable.