Before moving to Washington D.C. for six weeks, I had only visited once. Therefore, most of my expectations came from Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde.” While I might not be fighting for my dog’s mother to be released from a research lab (although, what a noble cause, am I right??), I am here to learn how policy comes to fruition. While there is a lot that Elle got right when it comes to life on The Hill, I’m here to clue you in on a few things she got wrong.

One of the biggest misconceptions about D.C. is that to be successful here you can only advance by being cutthroat, ruthless, and greedy. That thought could not be further from the truth. The movie portrays Elle working in a representative’s office for months on a bill, only to be undercut at the end, due to the congresswoman needing to please her campaign sponsors. After only one week of personally working on The Hill, it is easy to see how much the staff and representatives want to work together to try and pass good policies. This is not to be confused with everyone getting along perfectly, but I have been pleasantly surprised at the bi-partisanship I have seen after only five days in the office. Another interesting take on the matter is that jobs as a staffer in the House are not a typical nine-to-five position that someone gets to pay the bills. Frankly, these people could probably make more money somewhere else, but their passion about certain topics and belief that this is where they need to be make it such a special work dynamic. I think that the passion the people here have is something that truly embodies the American dream. I have learned there are so many people here that, like me, believe in something greater than themselves.

Another aspect Elle Woods seemingly forgets to mention is the cost of living in the D.C. area. I learned very quickly that grabbing a few things from the grocery store will add about $20 more than what I would spend in Texas. I suppose it is a good thing I’m used to living the broke college kid life! But seriously, I think one blonde to another Elle should have mentioned all the money I would have to shell out to eat. I mean, can’t a girl get an HEB on the East Coast??

The BIGGEST thing Elle left out is how she made herself look more glamorous by walking around The Hill all day without getting blisters the size of Alaska on her feet. On my first day, I even made sure to wear flats, but unfortunately, fell victim to the most stereotypical intern problem. Some would say that Elle Woods’ biggest accomplishment was passing Bruisers Bill, but if you ask me, it is the fact that she could make it even one day on The Hill in her sky-high pumps without getting blisters.

While some of the things on my list are negative, I do not want it to overshadow how much I absolutely love living and working in our nation’s capital. I can see why Elle Woods loved being here so much. After one week in the office, I am sure now more than ever that policy is where I want to take my career after college. This blonde with blistered feet and big dreams is excited to see where this experience will take her!

Harlea Hoelscher
House Committee on Agriculture – minority office
Washington, D.C. | summer 2020

Must-see museums are closed, access to government buildings is limited, famous restaurants have closed their doors, and the metro has modified operating hours. What do we do now?

Interns in the Nation’s Capital typically see the hustle and bustle of a town on a mission. Housing the nation’s elected officials, top military leaders, numerous special interest groups, policymakers, and policy enforcers, Washington D.C. is usually packed full of events and exciting places to see. The current pandemic poses some changes to this typical schedule. However, with a little insight, there is still much to take advantage of in the capital!

Be sure to strap on your mask, and let’s see D.C.!

1. Catch up on policy topics and the news

Whether it is watching the nightly news, tuning into your favorite podcast, reading the latest twitter post, or doing some background research, there is no better place to become more knowledgeable about current events and policy. If you are looking for more information, reach out to legislative assistants or other interns that can give you the up-to-date information on what is happening in the legislature. Pro tip! If you have friends in other congressional offices and special interest groups, it is a great conversation starter to see how their offices are approaching current policies or legislation.

2. Reach out to a mentor or make a new connection

Emails, phone calls, zoom meetings, or even a walk in a local park! Washington D.C. is centered around networking and exploring new professions. If there is someone in town that has an interesting job or is an expert in a subject that intrigues you, do not hesitate to reach out to them. Typically, these opportunities to connect with other professionals are centered around grabbing coffee, but socially distancing is calling for a bit of creativity. We are all living in an odd time, and they will be impressed to see the effort you put in to meeting them!

3. Read a book

With lots of beautiful parks and open spaces, picking up a book is never a bad idea. Even if you want to stay inside for a day, reading is a great way to relax and decrease your screen time.

4. Beach Day! But make it socially distant

Maryland and Virginia are both known for some beautiful coastlines. If you or a fellow intern have the means to drive, do a little exploring and take a day trip to the coast. I recommend, if you are looking for a quiet beach, check out Bethany Beach in Delaware. It is about a 2-hour drive, but the countryside is beautiful to see on your way there! Pro tip! Invite interns from other schools or offices. They are wanting to explore and have fun during their internship just as much as you!

5. Explore the Mall

Coronavirus, or not, exploring the National Mall is a must in D.C. With lots of open space, the National Mall allows you to see many of the historic buildings, monuments, and memorials that provide insight into American history. Evening walks down The Hill and night-time tours of the Washington Monument, World War II, Lincoln, Korean War, and Vietnam War Memorials are spectacular and humbling. But be careful! The metro only runs until 9:00 P.M.

6. Bonus! Happy Independence Day!

If you find yourself in Washington D.C. on the 4^th of July, the fireworks display on the National Mall is worth considering. In my opinion, they are spectacular! Be sure to arrive very early to get good seats away from other spectators. Also, a picnic blanket and cards (or dominos for our 42 friends, WHOOP!) are necessary for proper intern entertainment.

Let me leave you with these final words: Appreciate the time you have here and make the most of it! This is a situation unlike any other in recent history, and very few people will be able to say that they saw their government work under these conditions. It is different, but you are seeing history being made every single day. Stay safe and enjoy your time!

Shelby Lepley
Office of Congressman Kevin Brady
Washington, D.C. | summer 2020

In June I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work in my Congressman’s local district office, located in my hometown. In July I began working in the office in Washington, D.C. Since then I have learned about the different types of work that the offices of a member of Congress perform on a daily basis.

The Member usually has two to three offices in their district dedicated to helping constituents. Employees are usually referred to as constituent liaisons or caseworkers since they work directly with constituents, recording their concerns or making congressional inquiries on their behalf for cases involving federal agencies. The district director oversees the district operations and is the most direct link to the DC office.

The DC office is headed by the Chief of Staff. The communications director, scheduler, staff assistant, legislative assistants, legislative director, and of course interns work there as well. While a significant portion of time is still spent addressing constituent concerns through phone and mail, the main focus of the D.C. office is legislative policy. Legislation is created, researched, and evaluated in the Capitol.

A Representative’s job is ultimately to represent and lead the country on behalf of their constituents. They support their constituents on a more personal level by aiding in casework. They help people get their stimulus check, tax returns, or Social Security when system errors and red tape have backlogged their case. This makes a real impact in people’s lives on an individual basis. Yet, the representative also supports their constituents on a community level by passing policies supporting their interests. They can have a widespread positive impact by working to pass bills and lasting policies.

I have enjoyed experiencing the different offices of the House of Representatives and have seen how politicians can help people on both small and large scales.

Hannah Neighbors
Office of Congressman Randy Weber
Washington, D.C. | summer 2020

I’m from a small town where the rooster and the train are competing on a daily basis to be your alarm clock. Where you get up and fire off your pickup and head off to school, work, or down to the local café where all the men gather round for their morning coffee. Where driving into town takes longer than driving through it.

DC is nothing like hometown Texas. You’re still waking up at 6 a.m. but it’s the trash truck slamming the dumpster 14 stories below, or maybe it’s someone hollering on the sidewalk that’s waking you up. If you’re wanting to get anything done in the morning you better take that wake-up call and get to it. Living at the Buchanan requires one to be ever conscious of time spent getting ready as four guys are needing in the same bathroom you’re in, so if you wake up late you’re going to be in the kitchen using the reflection in the microwave door to style your hair and shave. If you aren’t in the lobby by 8:10am, you’re going to be missing the train and you’ll be late; however, take the time to say bye to Roosevelt at the front desk before heading to the metro.

Once you get to work you have to go through security. For me this was a constant battle with the metal detector because it would detect something even though I emptied my pockets. I’m pretty sure the morning shift security guards hate me. After getting into the office and starting the coffee, setting out the newspaper, and logging into your computer the phone calls start rolling in. Just remember to be patient, be calm, and be that young respectful child your mama raised. Get used to the regular callers. These are the ones who you start worrying about if they haven’t called by the afternoon because they would’ve normally called hours ago.

Afternoons may consist of a Capitol tour. If your tour ends early, use this time to take advantage of being an intern and explore parts of the Capitol that the general public can’t go to. Find the tomb below the crypt where Washington was going to be buried, find the tunnels that run beneath the Capitol connecting the House side to the Senate, or stand on the Speaker’s balcony for a few minutes. But the best part of the day has to be when you’ve gotten back to the office and your office dog is so excited to see you. Be sure to treat her and take her on a walk.

Once the day wraps up and you leave the office take advantage of this time again and head over to the Capitol or to the Library of Congress to explore these historic buildings. Take the metro on back to the Virginia unless you’ve got a reception to attend which are probably going to be held in some of the hardest to find rooms of the Capitol. Back at the Buchanan, join the roommates who are now your family away from home for evening fun whether that be a meal share, workout, or a movie night. Getting to bed at a reasonable hour is pretty much a joke as you’re laughing and making bonds with guys that are going to be some good friends for life, after all you’re all Aggies so you’re just strengthening your familial bond.

Garrett Lathem
Office of Congressman John Ratcliffe
Washington, D.C. | spring 2020

Have you ever doubted the Aggie Network? It is a simple thing to do as it is hard to imagine an Aggie in almost every city and career field you can think of. However, it is real, and I have seen it first-hand in Washington, DC. The Aggie Network currently has 428,000 active former students, 62,000 undergrads, and more than 11,000 faculty and staff. That’s huge. In DC just for being a current student at Texas A&M I was invited to meet and talk to many inspiring and important people.

The first event I was invited to was a lively happy hour hosted by DC Aggies. DC Aggies is a fun social group made up of current and former students that now reside and work in and around the Capital. The club meets up and does fun events and activities about once a month. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet and get connected with people in all sorts of fields.

Another huge event was the annual Aggies on the Hill reception. This event was more formal then the happy hour and was hosted inside the U.S. Capitol. A lot of the same faces were in attendance, but there were also many prominent members of the Aggie Network and several others that flew in. Among those people where Michael K. Young, Colonel Michael Fossum, Congressman Bill Flores, and Congressman Will Hurd. It was such an exciting and cool experience to be able to interact with these individuals.

These events and meetings allowed me to have the opportunity to ask people I admired to go and grab coffee with me. On these coffee dates I had the opportunity to grow friendships and my professional knowledge by asking in-depth questions about individuals career journeys and aspirations. The one-on-one time was my personal favorite because it truly showed the Aggie Network, and how much people care about you and want to help you because you too bleed maroon.

Margaret Williams
National Association of Wheat Growers
Washington, D.C. | spring 2020

When they tell you there are a lot of things to do in the DC area they aren’t joking, you could spend years there and still have things to see. My internship was cut short because of COVID-19 and I regret the weekends I didn’t try to go do the things I wanted to see because I thought I had more time. Don’t get me wrong adjusting to your work schedule, navigating the city, and learning how-to live-in DC will be exhausting, but don’t take any time for granted. I suggest making plans days or weeks in advance and sticking to them. Plan out what you want to go see, when you are going, how you are going to get there, and what time you’ll be leaving, and most importantly stick to those plans! Now most of the Virginia and DC area is not up or open before 10 on the weekends (trust me I am an early riser and no one was out), so don’t be worried about having to get up at the crack of dawn. On some weekends you will want to just stay in bed and rest but I really do suggest going to do just one thing even if it is later in the day so you get to sleep in and don’t waste any time. If you run out of ideas ask your coworkers where you should go. Lastly, do not forget to take it all in, you are living in one of the oldest areas of the country and at times you will get numb to it all. As often as you can take a step back and let the awe of living in such a cool place hit you all over again.

Taylor Terry
Office of Congressman Kevin Brady
Washington, D.C. | spring 2020