07.09.2024 Welcome to the Tri-Caucus
On Tuesday, I started work bright and early. I had scheduled a coffee meeting the week before, and the time was finally here. The coffee meeting went great. I had not seen Donald since last year, when we met through my MSU Study Away. We talked about school and his work through the Senate Agriculture Committee, and he gave me advice about university. It's great that I have been able to keep a connection here in the city from my last trip. Everything felt full circle. After, I went back to the office and got to answering constituent calls. It was a calm day considering the last week, and I have finally gotten the rhythm of answering angry constituents.
Once work was finished, CHCI headed over to the Library of Congress, where the Tri-Caucus would be having its reception. The event went really well. We met other interns on the hill, ate a lot of appetizers, and enjoyed the mocktails. We heard speeches from each of our respected CEOs and presidents and got fired up by their encouragement and passion for our work in public service. It was inspiring to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who are dedicated to making a difference in their communities. The evening ended, and I headed home to rest before Wednesday began.
07.10.2024 NextGen
On Wednesday, I was tasked with the duty of being a chaperone for a few high school students that were coming through CHCI’s program called NextGen. Hannia and I were assigned four Texan and Oklahoma girls who we would be in charge of for the entirety of the day. We followed their schedule and met with their senators, where they had the chance to ask questions and learn about opportunities on the hill. We ate in the Dirksen cafeteria, gave them a tour of the Capitol, and brought them to the House Gallery. Where both parties were having a tough battle on voting and immigration. The tour gave the girls a really good understanding of what life on the Hill is like. Overall, it was a memorable and educational experience for both the girls and us as mentors. I reminisced about how just a year ago I was in their shoes, learning everything I could about this city so that I could find a way back. I wish them the best of luck in their journey and hope that they keep being engaged in our government.
07.11-12.2024 D.C. Workdays
Thursday was a regular day at the office. I worked on news clips, answered calls, attended a briefing, and got to work with my staff. I also got to see one of the projects I had been working on come to life! Through my internship, I have been learning about heat mitigation and what government officials can do to help their constituents. Through my office, I have been collecting links to help create a website for the representative's constituents in Arizona so that they can have the resources they need while they experience extreme heat. The website is now live and accessible, which makes me very happy! On Friday, I worked from home and caught up on the news and updates on the election. After work, I quickly headed over to the metro for our staff barbeque! After multiple metro delays and the looming rain, I finally made it over and joined the office for some well-deserved burgers, hotdogs, and snacks. I had a great time getting to know everyone outside of work hours. I have been lucky with the place I ended up in.
07.13.2024 Walks & Fall Semester Prep
Sunday’s are Formula-One days. It has become my favorite sport, and my dedication to it shows.
Saturday morning started with me logging on to Teams to begin the first official meeting of Culturas de las Razas Unidas. As an E-board member, we began to go over future events, brainstorm ideas, and set future expectations. The meeting went really well, and I left the meeting excited to start the year and bring my role to fruition. Afterwards, I went and got myself a bagel, worked on something for CRU, and did some research. It was quite an uneventful day until 6:00 p.m. hit, and right before my walk by the White House, I was interrupted by the breaking news of political violence. To ensure my own safety and in case crowds rose because of the events, I changed my path to the Lincoln Memorial and ended the night by watching the sunset at the Kennedy Center. It has quickly become one of my favorite spots in Washington, D.C.
Kommentarer