Completing a summer internship: 5 points

 

This summer, I had the absolute pleasure of being an inaugural intern for Maryland Senator Angela D. Alsobrooks. It was nothing short of transformational this summer working as a congressional intern on Capitol Hill. My long days were filled with policy research, writing memos, giving capital tours, and sitting in on hearings & meetings with our nation's decision makers. 

I learned so much throughout this experience, beginning with a deeper understanding of my passion for educational rights and protection. It also taught me a great deal about myself and the ever-changing nature of Capitol Hill, especially under the current administration. It’s easy to view politicians as mere figureheads who don’t do much real work; however, this summer revealed just how much effort and coordination happen behind the scenes in an elected official’s office.

In the midst of this government shutdown, I think back to my summer on the Hill and reflect on how this shutdown goes beyond the 100 senators and 435 representatives that sit on the floor and vote, but this disrupts countless constituents who are just trying to live, and that should be the bottom line and heart of any elected official's office concern. 

As an economics major, it's easy to just see the number of things, the data of disparities, the statistical evidence of discrimination; however, working on the policy side of things and within the office allowed me to see the human side of politics the everyday interactions and real-world challenges that people face, and how they turn to their elected officials for guidance and reassurance during uncertain times.. I can apply these lessons by approaching social and economic problems with both data-driven analysis and a community-centered perspective. Seeing how policy decisions directly affect people’s lives taught me the importance of connecting research to real impact, and I plan to use that approach in my future work in education and economic policy.

-- Na'Imah Johnson | October 13