Archives for July 2021

The constant feeling of imposter syndrome you feel as a first-generation college student cannot be understated. When you look around a room and see so many people with these long resumes filled with accomplishment after accomplishment, you can feel a certain dread. And then fear and maybe a little bit of shame. Shame because you don’t feel as accomplished as others, fear that you won’t come across as smart as the person sitting next to you, and dread that you just simply won’t be able to ask the right questions that make someone remember you.

STOP. FEELING. THAT. WAY.

Wherever you are, at this exact moment, you are meant to be there. Whatever event/interview/internship/presentation you find yourself at in the near future, you were meant to be there. Stop discounting yourself because you did not have access to the same resources as others. Because, while it is difficult to be in that position, there is something about you that made someone say you deserved to be there. Just because your resume does not look as distinguished as the person sitting next to you doesn’t mean the person who is reviewing them thinks it is better than yours.

The deciding factor in me getting the internship I am in was the fact that I was a summer camp counselor. Not that I had the highest GPA, not that I had a ton of research under my belt, not the connections I had. It was literally the summer I spent taking care of 12+ middle school girls in the hot Texas sun.

For as long as I could remember, I was told I was crazy for wanting to pursue my bachelor’s degree. When I got into college, I was told I was crazy for pursuing the path I was. But as I’m sitting here in Washington D.C., interning on Capitol Hill, with my bachelor’s degree under my belt, I’m proving everyone who called me crazy or stupid wrong.

First Gens, stop discounting yourself because you can do it too.

Taitelyn Morris
Office of Congressman Filemon Vela
Washington, D.C. | Summer 2021

 

When I was in high school, I went to a conference that focused on practicing interview skills.  In one of the practice rounds, each of us was asked the question, ”What do you hope to be remembered for?” Even though it was just a practice round, when I heard this question, I panicked a bit. My mind started racing for an answer that would sound thoughtful and reflective, but the question was When not one that my seventeen-year-old brain had taken the time to think about. Before I realized what I was doing, I started spewing off an answer about how I’m a very organized person, and I hope to be remembered for my ability to keep every little detail straight. I even started to ramble for a while about my accordion folder that had all aspects of my life neatly filed away into, and the hourly planner that allowed me to plan every moment of the day. As soon as I finished the answer, I knew I was about to receive an immense amount of constructive criticism from the interviewer. Fortunately, they were kind enough to just ask,” Do you really want to be remembered for…your folders?” I immediately responded that I of course hope to be remembered for more than that, but I just didn’t know what yet. I didn’t know what my legacy in life was going to be.

I think most of us don’t take the time to think deeply about what we will be remembered for. We get caught up in just surviving life, and don’t take the time to think about what will be said about us after we aren’t surviving anymore. Having a legacy sounds like a big and daunting thing meant only for those who do incredible things, but it’s really something that each of us has the ability to craft. Having a legacy has less to do about what it is we do with our lives, and more with how and why we do everything.  Maya Angelou, a famous poet, said, ”I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” At the end of our lives, our legacy is not shaped by the big, grand actions that we were able to do. It’s created by how we go about every day, as well as what our intention and purpose behind everything are.

I think a lot of our society doesn’t pause to think about the fact that we are shaping our legacies each and every day, but we definitely should. Having a legacy does not require us to be or do anything extraordinarily special, but it does require us to be thoughtful and consistent with how we treat others. No matter how old we are, we have the opportunity to start shaping our legacy.

These past few weeks of my internship have allowed me to pause and reflect on what my impact and legacy are with who I work for and what work I am doing. By being intentional with every project and interaction that I have, I am able to craft a legacy that I can be proud of. A legacy is less about creating a big, elaborate impact, and more about being purposeful with every action I take. No matter the position, we have the ability to take pride in our work and create an impact that is bigger than ourselves.

If I could give any advice to an intern, student, or young adult like myself, it would be to not get too caught up in what you are doing and spend more time considering how and why you’re doing it. Our legacy lies in the process and purpose, and we have the ability to create a positive impact in everything we do if we take the time to reflect on it in every seemingly small moment.

Mamie Hertel
National Association of Wheat Growers
Washington, D.C. | Summer 2021

Ever wonder how the experts can quickly recall a story or statistic from decades ago?

Or, have you ever mentioned a subject area and someone immediately knows the leader in that field? This summer in D.C., we have been constantly in contact with career professionals who have spent decades with their subject matter. At times, it can be both intimidating and daunting to think about how far away we might be from achieving that same level of knowledge and information recall. So, how do we, as interns, utilize our unique position and set ourselves up for continued success and longevity in the policy world? We must stay vigilant and engaged in our roles and do what I like to call ‘practice learning’.

3 easy ways to practice learning:

1. Take a sip from the fire hose. It’s easy to be overwhelmed at the amount of information that might constantly stream in your world, especially in our rapid-fire news culture. Take the time to identify what you find interesting, and begin healthy habits like taking 10 minutes each morning to read the news for your sector. Small steps like this lead to information buildup and allow you to stay on the ball in conversations with experts.
2. Set pride aside. How often do we stifle the questioning and curious voice in ourselves because we are afraid of ‘looking bad’ or like we may not know something? It takes practice. In meetings or in conversations, take the observer role and allow your curiosity to take the front seat. Humility is key in admitting you may not know something, but the journey of what you may learn is more than worth it. Ask questions and be proud of your learning.
3. Be the guide. One of my favorite sayings I hear from mentors is “I may not know the answer, but I sure know who does.” Being in touch with your network and up-to-date on their issue areas allows you to guide others to them for valuable insight, rather than feeling like you must bear the burden of every issue-area available. No one person knows every last fact! Practicing learning means knowing when to pass an item along to someone who may have more experience than you.

It’s important as young leaders and professionals to hone in our skills and practice learning. How will you practice learning?

Piper Merritt
House Committee on Agriculture
Washington, D.C. | Summer 2021

 

In Washington D.C., you are constantly hearing the phrase “how the sausage is made” to describe the political process. Capitol Hill, where most people think the sausage is made, draws all the attention. Everyone’s fixation is on the most pressing legislation, the congressional press releases, and what Congress accomplishes while in session. But what happens after Congress passes a vast stimulus package or omnibus bill? Where does that hot-topic piece of legislation go after the congressional process? The answer is the Executive Branch, which enforces these laws within the administrative state. While much of the political process focuses on the legislative process, it is essential to know about the regulatory process and how regulations affect the art of governing.

First, it is critical to understand the roles of a congressional law and a regulation issued by an agency. Laws go through the bill process before becoming established as a law. Like School House Rock exhibited, the theory of passing a bill is simple, pass an identical bill through the House and Senate and then get the president to sign it into law. In reality, the process is anything but simple. Just like sausage, the actual process is extremely messy. Members of each house have to introduce the bills for its first reading, committees have to have hearings and amendments on the legislation, then floor debates on the second reading, and a final vote is then necessary. After all this, it must go through the same process in the second chamber. Eventually, if everything works ideally, the bill will go to the president’s desk for signature.

After the president signs legislation into law, the Executive Branch departments and agencies must implement it. This passover to the Executive Branch is where the regulatory process goes into full effect. A regulation is a statement issued by a federal agency with the force and effect of law. A governmental agency creates a regulation, often to actually implement a given law. These rules specify the requirements necessary to fulfill and enforce legislation passed by Congress.

Unlike a bill, the rule-making process does not go through the legislative process. Within the rule-making process, the general idea is that an agency holds a public hearing on a given rule and then decides to adopt, change, or decline a rule. Just like the passage of a bill, the rule-making process can break down into smaller parts. First, the rule-making process can be spurred by agency initiatives – regulations under the agency’s statutory authority, or by statutory mandates – regulations stemming from the passage of a law. Next, these agencies publish proposed rules in the Federal Register and allow the public to provide comments. Finally, the Federal Register publishes the final rule with an implementation date.

The legislative and regulatory processes are mammoths, each with different branches of government in mind. Like sausages, some argue that the laws and rules should never be watched made. However, it is essential to know how these two processes govern the laws and authorities of the federal government to lobby for changes within the policy process.

 

Clayton Elbel
The Fertilizer Institute
Washington, D.C. | Summer 2021

Coming to D.C. for an internship is daunting but thrilling. Especially, when like me, you arrive in a big city you’ve never been to before and will be living with people you have never met. Little did I know that the girls of 434 would soon become lifelong friends almost instantaneously. The directors of the program, Erin and Stephanie, said before coming to D.C. that they had great luck in the past with assigning roommates. I can say that they hit the pot of gold with their assignments this summer. Devin, Ryleigh, Payton, and I have become inseparable in the big city. As a cherry on top, Devin and I have the exact same birthday, the odds being the same as becoming best friends with your randomly assigned roommates…These girls have become not only my biggest support system but also a piece of home while being 1,425 miles from College Station. In just four weeks we have braved the metro system, explored the National Mall at night, and visited the Virginia beaches. Between endless laughter and sweet conversations, these girls have quickly become lifelong friends, and I cannot wait to see what the rest of the summer holds for us! So if you’re nervous as I was about being away from home with new people, trust the process. Plus you never know, your future best friends may just be a few feet away!

Tori Teegarden
Office of Congressman Pete Sessions
Washington, D.C. | Summer 2021

 

The National Mall is centrally located in Washington, DC stretching over 2 miles from the Lincoln Memorial on the west end to the U.S. Capitol on the east end. The mall encompasses and is surrounded by museums, statues, historical landmarks, food trucks, people, animals, the list goes on. I may be the only one that did not know this, but for those who may not, you can play sports in, on, and around the National Mall. Yes, sports. Baseball, softball, soccer, flag football, track & field, wrestling, etc. People get creative. You can go for a jog on the pebble-like track around the grass, make snow or grass angels, take your dog for a walk, or anything you can think of (that is legal, of course). The craziest part about it, is that you can casually walk to a spot and claim your area. Of course, this would be easier to do with a group of people, so let me tell you how to do it if you are new to town.

The Hill is full of young people who love to play sports. Many of the staffers are already involved in something. This season in my office, it is softball. I personally would have never known this if I did not make it a point to strategically implement a conversation in the office to the right people. We work long hours, must commute, network, and typically sports end at dusk. Every office is different, and you may be invited on the first day or not at all if you do not try. Talk to the staff members and tell them what you like to do. If it is a sport that the National Mall physically does not support, such as swimming, they will be able to tell you where to go or who to talk to. If you engage with the staff and it is a failed attempt, casually bring it up to the head honcho in the office, or someone very close to him/her. Who you work for will more than likely be interested in what you do or at least want to leave you with a good impression to send back home. Talk to them, network, and tell them what you are interested in. Sports is an amazing way to get to know people outside of the office, triple your Hill network base, and make friends.

Not interested in sports? The advice still applies. You have an interest. At this point, you should know at the very least that you are interested in policy. Learn the positions of the office staffers and employees. Ask them to go on a coffee break, catch them in the break room, or message them on teams if they seem intimidating or too busy for a chat. Only one person in my office read my resume, which is the same person that hired me. Do not walk into the office and assume people know who you are, what you do, where you go or went to school, what you are interested in, or literally anything about you. If people do not know you, they will treat you as a stranger. If you say you are interested and are given a task on that interest, put your heart and soul into that project. People will start to love to work with you, send you more projects, talk to you more, introduce you more, and again, the list goes on. Work hard, play hard. Everything you do on the Hill will leave an impression with someone. How do you want to be remembered?

Meghan McGowan
Office of Congressman August Pfluger
Washington, D.C. | Summer 2021

While interning in D.C., I’ve learned many lessons — the unspoken rules of the Metro, how to fit a dodge truck into a relatively small parking garage, and how to attempt to budget during weekend trips. While I could certainly write more than a few blog posts on all of those lessons and more, I wanted to share the lessons I’ve learned while interning in a congressional office on the Hill.

1. Be willing to learn. This is the first lesson for a reason. While interning on the Hill, you’ll be asked to do a variety of tasks. For example, answering phones, batching mail, running errands, and writing memos are all things you might be asked to do.  Some of these tasks may be fairly simple, while others might be outside of your comfort zone or something you’re completely unfamiliar with. Whatever the task is, being willing to learn how to do it to the best of your ability will take you far in your internship. Also, you may find you’re learning skills that will be valuable for years to come.
2. Make friends and build a network. Like Texas A&M University, the Capitol seems huge… until you realize how easy it is to run into people you know. While interning, get to know as many people as you can, whether they’re fellow Aggies outside of the program, other interns in your office, or just people you meet along the way. You’ll be building a professional network, and you’ll find your work week is much more enjoyable when you have friends to run into in the halls and at lunch.
3. Share your passions and your interests. As said above, you’ll be asked to do a variety of tasks for your office. However, if you share with your office staff what you’re interested in they are more likely to give you tasks in your interest area. For example, you may be asked to write a memo in a policy area you’re interested in if you discuss that with your legislative aides. Or, if you’re interested in photography, you might work with your office press secretary. Either way, your office won’t know what you’re interested in if you don’t communicate that.
4. Do your best always. No matter what you’re working on, do your best and give your all. Your office will take note of your hard work and may assign you bigger projects. Additionally, you’ll be building your reputation and learning skills you’ll carry with you into your future career opportunities.

These are the four main lessons that have served me while interning in a Congressman’s office. In the short month I’ve been here, I’ve learned so much and I’m looking forward to learning so much more. I hope if you’re considering or pursuing an ANRP Internship, this has been helpful. So, which lesson do you think will be most important to your success?

Payton Ramsey
Office of Congressman Michael Cloud and Office of Congressman Louie Gohmert
Washington, D.C. | Summer 2021