My name is Sophia Cook, a Political Science major at SUNY Brockport with two minors in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies. In summer 2024, I spent a short semester interning in Washington D.C. through the SUNY Washington Internship Program.
I interned this summer for U.S. Representative Joe Morelle on Capitol Hill. Congressman Morelle is the U.S. Representative for the 25th District of New York State, which includes Brockport and Rochester. He serves as the Ranking Member for the Committee on House Administration, as well as serving on the House Committee on Appropriations. Congressman Morelle is a co-founder of the Optics and Photonics Caucus, and a member of 44 other Caucuses and Task Forces. Some of his policy focuses include enacting common sense gun reform, improving our education system, protecting women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights, honoring our veterans, protecting the environment, and securing affordable and quality healthcare.
This internship taught me more than I could’ve ever imagined. I learned the true inner-workings of Congress and the legislative process, and was able to see important policy decisions unfold right before my eyes. Through my internship, I was able to take correspondence from constituents both through phone calls and mail, attend hearings and briefings on the Hill, help legislative assistants with projects, and make new connections. But most of my duties as an intern consisted of assisting with administrative tasks for the office.
Just through living in D.C., and working in the heart of the government, I was able to learn so much about the current politics in our country. It was an opportune time to be here considering all that has happened for the upcoming election, and seeing how that has affected Congress.
My experience here in Washington D.C. did not only revolve around my job and politics. Through the SUNY Washington Internship Program, I was able to attend a different class each Friday with my fellow peers in the program. We got to visit with new speakers and organizations each week, while also incorporating other fun activities. My favorite organization we visited for class was the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. This organization stands for exactly what I am passionate about in politics, so I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about their goals and accomplishments.
The opportunity I was given to intern on Capitol Hill was one I will forever be grateful for. Getting to explore a new city with new people, as well as develop a better understanding of policy work, was an experience I will never forget. Through the SUNY Washington Internship Program, I was able to figure out which career path I wanted for my future.