As my time as an undergraduate was quickly coming to an end, I realized that I wanted to gain real life experience in the world of politics, specifically in DC. I came across the SUNY Washington Internship program two days prior to the closing of the application. After taking a quick scan, I decided to take to the leap of faith and apply. I then reached out to Casey and Robert to express my interest and ask more in-depth questions. Ever since that moment they have been more than enough help. Having people that truly wanted me to succeed and be placed somewhere that would benefit my career made my decision to spend the semester in DC more doable. I ended up becoming a Schutern (e.g., a Senator Schumer intern).
Prior to coming to DC, I was unaware of the importance that Senator Schumer held in Congress. Being able to work for the Democratic Leader during a change in administration was an amazing experience. Our office was undergoing a transitional period from Schumer being in the majority to now the minority. That meant that instead of leading the conversations in the Senate, our office was on the defensive side and trying to combat bills from the Republican agenda. Interns learned quickly that this was something the office was experiencing for the first time and was not exactly prepared for. We would receive various emails thanking us for the hard work we were doing at a time like this and expressing that these were unprecedented times for the office. For example, during the budget bill, our office received a record number of calls. After getting through that challenging period, I felt as though I was prepared to do anything else. I am someone who thrives off of a fast-paced environment where there is always work to be done. One of my favorite parts of the job was being able to escort VIP’s for meetings with the Senator. During my last week, one of the Staff Assistants requested that I provide a special escort; it was not until I arrived at the Capitol before I learned that I would be escorting the CEO of JetBlue to a meeting.
I’ll never forget the record-breaking volume of calls we fielded after the budget bill hit the floor, the smiling faces I guided on Capitol tours, or the surreal experience of sitting in on high-stakes hearings and writing memos on a wide range of policy issues. One standout moment was in the beginning of my internship when I was asked to guard the door of one of the weekly Democratic Caucus luncheons. My role was to ensure that no members of the Republican Party or press entered the room. Halfway through the event, Senator Cory Booker came outside of the room and offered me a slice of chocolate cake! I’m normally not a fan of chocolate cake but that day I was more than happy to accept the gesture. That moment made me realize that members of Congress are regular people as well.
My participation in a congressional internship led to being a recipient of the New York State Society of DC scholarship. Paul Lobo and other members of the Board of Directors welcomed me and the two other recipients with open arms. We had the opportunity to attend various events on and off the Hill, including a breakfast discussion with Representative Claudia Tenney and a lunch forum with Representative Joe Morelle. Members of the Society were more than happy to discuss their journeys with me as well as provide advice on how I can succeed in my future career.
One of my favorite parts of this semester was the bonds I formed throughout my cohort. I am extremely grateful for them and can truly see the friendships I formed lasting long term. Seeing us go to each other’s graduations and meet each other’s families showed how close we all got over a short period. Without having them, the experience would not have been the same. After a long day at work, I would try to talk about it with my family and friends back home but it isn’t the same as speaking about it with people that are experiencing the same thing. My favorite memory would be our Capitol Dome tour. This moment was sentimental because it took place on the last day of the internship for the majority of us. Reaching the top of the dome was a full circle moment and filled me with joy as I reflected on all the different opportunities I had throughout the semester.