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Environmental Conservation and Restoration in the D.C. Area

10Jun

If you are looking for an exciting weekend activity or an opportunity to network, volunteering in the D.C. area is a great way to achieve that. During my internship, I participated in a habitat restoration effort at Kingman Island and Dawson Terrance Park hosted by the D.C. Master Naturalist Program and the Society of Conversation Biology. During these events, we removed invasive vegetation to promote and protect native wildlife.

Removing invasive species is important for environmental restoration because they can degrade native habitats and compete with the wildlife for food, water, shelter, and space. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) invasive species cause “more than 100 billion dollars in damage each year to the U.S. economy. Costly effects include crop decimation, clogging of water facilities and waterways, wildlife and human disease transmission, threats to fisheries, increased fire vulnerability, and adverse effects for ranchers and farmers” (USGS, 2022).

In order to mitigate these consequences, we worked to remove the following species:

Bush Honeysuckle

Bush honeysuckle is native to Eurasia but is widely planted as an ornamental shrub in the United States. It can easily grow out of control and rapidly spread. If exposed to wild areas, it can inhibit the growth of native trees, shrubs, and ground layer species. It does so by blocking out sunlight, secreting toxic exudates, and depleting the soil of moisture and nutrients. In addition to that, Bush honeysuckle has negative consequences on native birds because the berries have a net-zero nutritional content. When birds consume the berries, they gain no nutrition benefit but are sated. This can lead to decreased chick survival and starvation.

Running Bamboo

Running bamboo is used ornamentally and is native to Asia. It is a highly aggressive and fast-growing plant species. Bamboo can suffocate native vegetation, decrease tree density, damage property and deplete soil nutrients. It is incredibly challenging to control and get rid of once roots have been established.

English Ivy

English ivy is another common ornamental plant and is native to Eurasia. It is a climbing vine that covers and kills trees, cokes ground plants, and creates “ivy deserts” where nothing else can thrive. It promotes mosquito populations by providing an environment where puddles and wet soils can collect. English ivy can also carry and spread Bacterial Leaf Scorch, a plant pathogen detrimental to oaks, elms, and maples.

After these species have been fully removed at each location, native wildflowers, ground cover, and shrubs will take their place in the spring. I found this educational opportunity as a refreshing break from work and a great way to network with wildlife and environmental professionals.

If you are also looking for events that pertain to your field of interest or would like to network over an activity, an easy way to find events is to google search “events near me” or visit the Eventbrite website at: https://www.eventbrite.com/d/dc–washington/events/.

Shawnee Chavez
The Fertilizer Institute
spring 2022 | Washington, D.C.

7 Tips for a Congressional Intern

10Jun

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be an intern on Capitol Hill? Through my time as a Congressional intern, I have picked up a few tips that will help you survive on the Hill.

#7 Dress to Impress

Make sure to dress appropriately. It’s always a good idea to dress business professional at first and just feel out your office. In my office, we dressed business professional when we were in session and business casual on out of session days. We were also allowed to wear nice jeans when we were out of session, but make sure that is appropriate in your office. When in doubt, throw on a blazer to up your look.

#6 Be On-Time

ALWAYS be on time! It looks very unprofessional if you are late to work frequently. In my experience, I was usually the first one at the office and had to wait in the hallway until one of my coworkers got there. It looks much better for you to be early and waiting rather than late and people waiting for you.

#5 Communicate with Your Supervisor

Tying back to my last point, if you are going to be late, make sure you communicate this to your supervisor. Your supervisor is there to make sure you have a successful internship experience, so you need to communicate with them what you hope to gain from your internship and what you hope to accomplish during your internship. Also don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand or need help.

#4 Confidentiality is KEY!

When interning in a Congressional office, you have to keep some information confidential. For example, if you have access to your Congressperson’s schedule, you shouldn’t share that with anyone! What is said in the office, should stay in the office most of the time. Its ok to share stories of your day with your roommates, but just keep certain information to yourself.

#3 Don’t Take Things Personally

This was one of the biggest things I had to learn. If a caller is rude to you, don’t take it personally. They probably aren’t really upset with you, but just with the situation in general. It is also important to know what your office’s protocol is for rude callers. In my office, I was allowed to tell the caller that I was going to put them on hold until they calmed down and most of the time they just hung up after that. If a caller ever makes you feel uncomfortable or starts making threats towards you or your Congressperson, make sure to notify your supervisor.

#2 Be Open to Learning New Things

Don’t close yourself off to opportunities just because you think it might not be interesting to you. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Don’t close yourself off to only one area of interest. Any time someone in your office asks you to help with something, say yes! You have nothing to lose by learning new skills.

#1 Put 110% Into Your Internship

The most important rule is to put your best effort into your internship experience. What you get out of the experience is dependent on what you put into it. Make sure to take every opportunity offered to you and seek out opportunities for yourself! If there is a hearing you want to go to or a meeting you want to attend, just ask! The worst they could say is no. This internship experience opens a world of opportunities to you so make the most of it! You don’t want to leave having any regrets that you didn’t get to do something.

Mikayla Wrenn
Office of Congressman Louie Gohmert
spring 2022 | Washington, D.C.

A Guide to Living as a College Student in D.C.

10Jun

When I learned that I got into the DC internship program, I was extremely excited and could not wait to live in the area for the semester. One thing I did not expect about moving up here, though, is what a culture shock it would be. The DMV area is such a young, truly urban and fast area, almost a complete 180 from Texas. Navigating life here, especially as a 19 year old college student, was such a new experience for me, but I learned my way around and how to have the best experience of my life during the internship. Here are some tips that I learned from my experience!

First, find like-minded people you can hang out with in the area! A great way to start this is trying to connect with your fellow interns from A&M. I was lucky to be paired with someone with a very similar lifestyle to me as my roommate, and I was able to find many other interns that I became fast friends with. Additionally, DC is all about meeting new people through other people! I found new friends from people my roommates were friends with or worked with, so it’s a great and easy way to find people to spend time within the area.

Next, stay on a budget! This is perhaps the most important lesson you can learn for DC. The area is so incredibly expensive, and much more costly than Texas for sure (or Atlanta, where I’m from). The more you can save on things like food and transportation, the more money you will have to have other experiences! There are two big things you can do to save money. Cook family meals with your roommates at home; by buying groceries in bulk, you can save so much money! Second: use the metro system! Uber and Lyft are so expensive in the area, and using public transportation is a much cheaper option to travel around the area.

Next, explore the area! I know that all the interns coming to DC are passionate about their policy interests and the internships they are going to, and that can make it very easy to fall into a work-only mindset. While it is very important to take full advantage of your internship and the experience you can gain for it, it’s also important to take time for yourself and do something fun. The DMV area has no shortage of attractions in addition to the famous sites in the area, and there is something for everyone to explore here.

Lastly, take a moment to relax! Recognize that you were chosen for this program because you are completely capable of handling the responsibilities and the tasks that come with both the internship and the living experience. It’s important for you to be proud of yourself for that, so take some time to think about it and enjoy what DC has in store for you!

Nitya Jella
Global Cold Chain Alliance
spring 2022 | Washington, D.C.

Museums to Visit in Washington, D.C.

10Jun

Are you in a new workplace environment? Are you in a city over 1,000 miles away from home? Or are you adjusting to living in a new apartment and roommates? While living in Washington, D.C., I have certainly had to deal with these situations. Having dealt with these, I quickly learned that one of the best ways to relax and unwind is by visiting the local museums. Although walking between four to five miles, traversing security, and surviving the fluctuating weather does not sound like the ideal for relaxation, museum touring can be just the answer for your situational woes. Here are the top three museum locations I have had the opportunity to visit, explore, and learn:

The National Art Gallery

Established in 1937 from a generous donation of funds and exhibits from Andrew W. Mellon, the National Art Gallery is a beautiful collection of pieces spanning across centuries. This museum provides a perfect array of viewing locations, furniture, and refreshments for the optimal visit experience. My personal favorite pieces can be found in the Flemish and French exhibits!

Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

As an all-time, iconic location in Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History is a must-see. From its towering fossils to its immersive mineral exhibits, this museum has something for everyone. I would recommend attending this museum with a friend! This will not only make the event feel more relaxed, having someone with another perspective with you will make every exhibit feel a bit deeper.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

The most visually striking and culturally impactful museum on the National Mall must be the National Museum of African American History and Culture. With a staggering six-floor design, one can spend an entire day at this museum. Due to its enormity, this museum has a wide array of materials and artifacts that relate to African American culture and the way in which it has influenced pop culture.

With this list of museums, you can make your visit to D.C., even more relaxing! The question is, which one will you visit first?

Jace Wilkey
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
spring 2022 | Washington, D.C.

An Ode To Washington, D.C.

7Dec

Looking back at my time here in Washington, D.C. I can honestly say I was not ready for what was in store for me. D.C. is a phenomenal place that is filled with adventure and excitement. Plus getting to work in the variety of government agencies and Capital Hill is something that cannot be put into words.

For those future ANRP/PPIP interns coming to Washington D.C., I offer you the following tips and advice to make your time in D.C. one you will never forget

1. GO explore D.C and TRAVEL

a. There is always something to do in D.C.. You will never be bored. Explore all the museums, go see the monuments, check out local events and festival happening on weekends. Make every effort you can to get out and explore whenever you can. You have such an amazing backyard at your fingertips here in D.C., use it to your fully advantage!

b. Also, the Mount Vernon Trail is only a five-minute run from the Buchanan and has some awesome views! D.C. for sure makes it easy to stay active and fit while you enjoy some of the best views of our great nation.

c. Travel on weekends to other great spots in our nation! New York and Philadelphia are a short bus or train ride away and tickets are not that expensive

2. Take advantage of your employment opportunity.

a. Working in the D.C. area gives you the perfect opportunity to get a first hand experience to the politics and policy that shape our great nation. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT!

b. Be that intern that goes over and beyond of what is expected from you. Get to work early, ask around the office for work if you need something to do, and be happy and proud to work in your set office. I promise you will not regret and bit of it.

3. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK

a. You will have this incredible opportunity to meet some amazing people from a variety of industries and fields. Have your business cards on you at all times and follow up with them! Develop that network of yours into something professional and incredible. You may never know when your network may come in handy.

4. Develop Yourself

a. Getting to work and live in D.C. will give some of you your first taste of working adult life. Take this time you have to discover you passions and truly develop them! Work on projects that inspire and intrigue you. Ask to attend briefings and meeting that get you excited and motivated. Find your passion and develop it as much as you can.

b. Also take this time in D.C to develop yourself personally. You may not get another time like this to be off in the big world by yourself. Use the opportunity you have to live life to the fullest!

I really cannot believe that I only have one week left before I leave this place that I have grown to love and move back home to Texas.. Time has for sure flown by and I am nervous but excited to return home. Washington, D.C. has truly shaped me into a person that I am proud of professionally and personally. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything else in this world.

Thank you Washington D.C.. Thanks and Gig ‘Em for everything.

Nathan M. Glavy ‘15

Office of Congressman Filemon Vela
Washington, D.C. – Fall 2015

How to Take A Day Off in DC

12Nov

Kangas FlagsWhen you work in Washington, DC, it can be jarring to take a day off, even if it’s for a federal holiday.

It can be tempting to catch up on the things you need to: laundry, grocery shopping, the latest episode of The Mindy Project, but it’s also important to remember that you live in Washington, DC! Take advantage of where you are, and try to make the most of your day off.

Try not to sleep in, especially if your day off is during the week–it’ll throw off your sleep schedule and you’ll waste your day! Okay…sleep in a little bit. But still set an alarm. Stop and get breakfast somewhere you’ve never been before; Alexandria and Georgetown are full of diverse shops and are only a metro ride away. (And you won’t even have to deal with slower weekend metro service!)

Explore the city and make an adventure of your day! You’ll never know what comic book store or cupcake shop you’ll stumble across while you’re wandering. Eat food that doesn’t come from a food truck or cafeteria. Whenever I have a day off, even if it’s a Saturday, I try to do one thing that a tourist would do. I’ve visited the White House for a tour of the fall gardens, I’ve been to a 4D show in the Newseum (well worth the admission price), I’ve walked to the Lincoln Memorial at night, and I’ve scoured the city for cherry blossom soap.

ArlingtonFor example, November 11th is Veteran’s Day, which this year happened to fall on a Wednesday:

8:15 Alarm goes off

8:30 Actually wake up to alarm this time after snoozing

8:34 Receive text from suitemate asking why you aren’t up yet

9:00 Leave for Arlington National Cemetery

9:42 Arrive at entrance of Arlington National Cemetery and realize what a great decision this was

10:11 Take selfies with the American flags handed to you by volunteers

10:12 Ask the people behind you if they’re willing to take a picture of you because you lucked into amazing seats that put you only ten rows in front of the stage (everything is marble and exquisite)

11:00 Star spangled banner, wreath lying ceremony, moment of silence

11:16 Vice President Joe Biden arrives (gasp, hit your friend to tell them the vice president and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, are present, take as many zoomed in pictures as you can)

11:18 President Barack Obama arrives (record to remind yourself this really happened)

11:20 Recite the Pledge of Allegiance with the Vice President and President of the United States (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

11:39 Record the address you’ll read about on Instagram (@whitehouse) and in the news for the next day and a half (commit to recording even past the eight minute mark)

12:16 Walk back to the Visitors Center, reflecting on the millions of men and women who have served to protect us and our freedoms, enabling you to even walk here in this moment

1:27 Stop at Astro for a Creme Brulee donut and chicken tenders (have a bite of your friends’ maple bacon and raspberry passionfruit donuts as well)

2:20 Window shop in Georgetown (vow to

Food
come back when you have a salary)

2:35 Order a raspberry lemon cupcake and a latte from Baked and Wired (best cupcakes in the city)

2:56 Stumble across Lush, buy everyone you can think of presents

3:40 Continue window shopping, but avoid going into stores where you know you can’t afford anything (unless they have candles)

4:11 Take pictures of giant Georgetown gingerbread house display

4:23 Order some macarons to take home for dinner, head back home

6:00 Start watching Frozen with your roommates and your macarons

Try to go to bed early because you’ve been walking around all day and need to be well-rested for work in the morning, end up talking with your roommate and going to sleep after 11 anyway.

When you work in DC, you deserve a day every now and then to relax and appreciate where you are and what you do every day. Commit to making the most of your day, and it’ll pay off.

Sara Kangas

National Farmers Union

Washington, D.C. – Fall 2015

Things I learned as an Intern at the Hill

29Jul

1. Washington DC is awesome.

There is so much history and there is a very proud American feel in the environment.

2. Be a tourist but don’t look like one.

When getting off the metro, walk on the left and stand on the right especially during the workweek.
When heading to work dress professionally but wear comfy shoes if you have to walk a bit.
No one cares if you are wearing tennis shoes with your professional work clothes, what matters is getting to the office in time without falling or getting blisters before you actually get into the office. The metro can get you close to where you want to go but for some destinations, if you don’t have a car, you’ll have to walk quite a lot, so put your heels in your bag and then change into them.

3. Georgetown Cupcakes are not the only cupcakes in DC, try Baked and Wired too!

4. The DC Metro is easy to get used to.

Study your metro route before the start of your internship
You know the direction in which the train is going by the destination it has on its lightboard.
example: If you’re heading to the Hill from Crystal City, take the yellow line toward Fort Totten and get off on L’enfant plaza and then take any train on the Largo side. You’ll know what I am talking about later.

5. When working on Hill, there will already be other interns from different schools.

First, be friends with them.
Two, if there are too many interns and you’re not doing much because your supervisor has not assigned you anything, it’s okay. Your supervisor knows that you are in the office, you could ask them every once in while if there is anything that you can do, but if they haven’t assigned you anything it means there do not have anything.
Three, get out of the office, if you are not doing anything and the phones are being taken care of.
capitolgrapevine.com
Four, even if you realize that your internship is not the career that you want to take, do your job.
Don’t be afraid to tell your supervisor how you feel about the job, but keep in mind that they are the ones that write your letter of recommendation.

5.Brunch is the thing to do in DC, but make reservations or call ahead.

6.White House tours are very hard to get, as soon as you know that you are coming to DC, fill out a White House tour application.

7. The only thing that DC does better than Texas is the weather.

But Texas has better Mexican food than all of the east coast.

8.Giving Capitol Tours are really fun!

The training session is terribly long but taking constituents to the Capitol gets you out of the office, you get to talk about American history, and you get to know and interact with the constituents!
For the whisper spot, it takes a little bit of practice to get it right and it works a lot better if there are not a lot of people in Statuary Hall.

Ada Morales

Office of Congressman Vela

Washington, D.C. – Summer 2015

ANRP 25th Anniversary

22Jul

Kotula ReceptionHowdy! My name is Chris Kotula and I am currently interning for Congressman John Carter on Capitol Hill.

I recently had the opportunity to attend the ANRP 25th anniversary reception being held in the Capitol. The event was a time for Aggies from all over the Washington, D.C. area to come together and celebrate the achievements of the ANRP program. It truly was a once in a lifetime experience, showing me in person how extensive the Aggie network is even so far away from home. The doors that the network opens up is truly amazing, I got to meet congressional staffers, lobbyists, a United States Colonel, and a handful of congressman all of which were alum of Texas A&M. Regardless of their occupation or years outside of the university everyone was incredibly nice and showed their Aggie spirit and willingness to help me out in any way I felt necessary. I ended up going home with a pocketful of business cards and new connections from all over the D.C. area.

Chris Kotula

Office of Congressman John Carter

Washington, D.C. – Summer 2015

What To Do When You Don’t Like Your Internship

19Jul

1. Admit that you do not like your internship.

Keep calm and breathe because that is completely okay.

Contrary to what most of my fellow co-interns would say, I do not like my intership. I am not saying that I hate it and dread coming to work, but that I realized that this type of work is not what I want to do the rest of my life. I definitely do not regret taking this internship because it gave a once in a lifetime experience, which I am very thankful for. After all, an internship is meant to give you a taste of a particular career; to learn about yourself and make smart decisions yourself.

2. Ask yourself, what would you rather do?

Personally, I wish I was back in Texas doing research with my little parasitic wasps, I’m trying to finish my grad schools applications now. Take this experience to get to know your future a little better. Ask yourself, “ do I like the environment I am in? am I enjoying this assignment? am I proud of the work that I just submitted to my boss?” Knowing that you aren’t too happy where you are, opens your mind to the career you would rather be in.

3. Walk around.

Go to a meeting that you know you have no interest in (it could become interesting), talk to people, research something, read a book, ask your supervisor about other work/intern opportunities, they might just know someone that has your same interests. It won’t hurt at all, I promise.

4. You do you.

Find little things that make your internship enjoyable. For me, I love the all the free coffee and lunches! And I really like to dress up and wear medium sized heels, I can’t do that at grad school or in a research lab. Also, if you are interning in a city that is not home, take advantage of that; find restaurants that you won’t be able to find back home, visit local landmarks, and make it a goal to at least make one new friend.

5. Still do your job.

There’s nothing worse than having an intern that does not do what is expected out of them. You may not enjoy it but you do need a good letter of recommendation so work for it.

 

Ada Morales

Office of Congressman Filemon Vela

Washington, D.C. – Summer 2015

Once in a lifetime

3Mar

Today Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu came to speak in front of a joint session in Congress. While it may have been of some controversy, Congressman Vela agreed to attend and with that, a guest ticket was allocated to him. Never did I think he would offer ME his guest ticket, but he did, and I was on my way to hear Prime Minister Netanyahu address Congress. The room gave a warm welcome to Netanyahu as he made his way down the center of the aisle, shaking hands of Congressmen. This man that newspapers and media have been debating about for weeks was finally here, and I was in his presence. My seat was behind the Speaker’s Chair and to the right in the gallery, so throughout the speech I only had the visual of the room’s responses to Netanyahu. His speech proved to be strong and powerful, with the whole House standing up cheering him on more times than I can count throughout the hour. He gave a great speech and I enjoyed every minute of it. Regardless of your stance on the Prime Minister’s visit, he is a powerful and important man. I am so grateful to the Congressman for allowing me a ticket to see this once in a lifetime speech.

Krystyn Krafka

Congressman Filemon Vela

Washington, D.C. – Spring 2015

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