Leaving home to go to school is one of the biggest decisions and steps that we make in our lives. For most Aggies, including myself, the fear and anxiety that comes with being on your own are offset by a safety net of knowing we are still within a reasonable distance of any member of our family. But what do you do when you move to a new state with no family close by?

When I arrived in D.C, I was thrown way out of my comfort zone, moving in with 4 strangers in a state and city where I knew no one. I might as well have been on an island. I was already missing my bed, university, family, dogs, and friends.

Here are the 3 things I did to help combat homesickness while in D.C.

1. Establish and expand your social network. I have not always been the most extroverted person when it came to meeting new people, but I knew going into this program that building a social network would be the key to a successful transition. What I did was start small and focused on connecting with my roommates. After all, I would be seeing many of them, and we already have similar career interests and aspirations. My roommates and I quickly turned into a mini family, and we have helped each other grow our social networks within the program and out and have great adventures together.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
2. Do the things that make you happy. Everyone has hobbies or activities that they truly enjoy, whether that is going to the bookstore every weekend for a new book, exercising, hiking, or bowling. I found that it is important to try to not lose those activities while in D.C. Almost anything you could do back home, you can find in D.C. as well. For me, this was simply going to the movie theater every so often when there was a new movie out and signing up for a gym membership at the local rock-climbing gym. This has made D.C. feel less like a foreign land and a little more like home.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
3. Try as many new things as you can. A busy mind prevents a wandering mind. Trying new things in D.C. has been a great way to avoid homesickness. Some have been simple, like going with my roommates to a new Chinese restaurant. Others have required some effort outside my comfort zone, such as going to explore a new part of town by myself. There are so many things to do in D.C. and surrounding areas, and you could do something new almost every weekend. For me, my favorite new things have been the Smithsonian museums and a day trip my roommates and I took to Philadelphia to see Independence Hall.

Anyone could take my lessons that are laid out above as a sort of templet, but everyone is a little different. I urge anyone moving to D.C. to take some time to reflect and think about what methods do and don’t work for you. It is also easy to get overwhelmed when you first get to the city, and even I could feel myself getting “paralysis by analysis.” So, it is also important to be decisive and take things one step at a time.

Taylor Mitchell
Office of Congressman Michael Cloud
Washington, D.C. | Fall 2021

Moving to a new city can be a rough transition for many, especially those experiencing ‘city life’ for the first time. However, one thing that I have found to ease the transition and helps alleviate stress/anxiety is to stay active! This of which may seem intimidating to do, seeing as you may be unfamiliar with the area. However, here are a few safe and fun activities you could do to stay active in D.C.

1.)   Utilize the gym available at the Buchanan

I am a strong believer that a little physical activity every day can really impact your mental and physical health in a positive way. Therefore, I highly encourage everyone to take advantage of the gym available just a few floors away from your room.

2.)   Go sightseeing 

After getting to D.C., it is extremely tempting to immediately go out and visit national monuments and museums located around the city. Therefore, it is highly encouraged to purchase your first SmarTrip card and start counting your steps. Walking around to the various monuments like the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument can be so interesting and fun that you don’t realize you are technically exercising as much as you truly are. For example, when visiting these exact places, my roommates and I walked 26,000 steps without realizing it.

3.)   Go on a hike

Another activity that is fun to do in your spare time and acts as a great cardio workout is hiking! There are many trails in and around the city, and some that can be reached if you have car access. For example, the Appalachian Trail is about an hour away from our apartment and is a great source of fresh air and scenic views!

4.)   Go on a run 

Lastly, go on a run! I know running doesn’t seem to be the most fun type of physical activity to participate in, but the views you are capable of experiencing make it worth it. For example, the Mt. Vernon trail is located down the street from the Buchanan, and it leads you along the Potomac and to the Jefferson Memorial. It is a decent run, however, there is nothing like seeing the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument lit up amongst such a peaceful silence. (early morning runs)

 

Victoria Izaguirre
Office of Congressman Randy Weber
Washington, D.C. | Fall 2021

 

 

Are you ever tired of concrete surroundings? Do you enjoy getting in touch with nature but feel disconnected? The great outdoors of the Shenandoah Valley, Appalachian Mountains, and Potomac riverside are calling, and you must go!

Nature can feel like a far-away concept when you’re constantly surrounded by the sounds of a metro station and walking in the shadows of a D.C. Highrise. In reality, the D.C. area is surrounded on all sides by some of the most breathtaking state and national parks that provide all levels of hiking, biking, and rock-climbing opportunities.

If you’re an avid hiker looking for The View, McAfee Knob is a challenging, 8-mile round-trip hike up to the top of Catawba Mountain in Virginia. A highlight of the Appalachian Trail, McAfee Knob provides a stunning 270-degree panoramic view of the valley below. USA Today called it one of the most spectacular hikes in the U.S.

If you’re more in the mood for a nice, moderate hike, the Annapolis Rock Trail is the one for you. A 2.5 mile in and out, the trail leads to exciting boulder edges perfect for a snack at the top. This is also a prime spot to see plumes of fall foliage! The Billy Goat Trail and Great Falls Overlook Trail are also great options in the moderate category and bring you up close and personal with the Potomac River.

For easiest accessibility, check out the Mount Vernon Hiking and Biking trail! Running all the way from Theodore Roosevelt Island to Mount Vernon, the 18-mile hike or bike ride is a paved trail full of beautiful views and places to rest and takes you right up to the front door of George Washington’s Estate. Be sure to plan a whole day for this adventure and drink plenty of water. In addition, many people use smaller sections of the trail to go for a walk, take a family bike ride, or visit Theodore Roosevelt Island.

While it’s important to experience the city in all of its glory, a little fresh air and a nice hike is a great way to refresh and relax. There are so many ways to experience nature, even when you live in D.C.! Take the time to get outside and experience all that nature has to offer.

Abby Huie
Office of Congressman Filemon Vela
Washington, D.C. | Fall 2021

 

Do you ever find yourself going on vacation and being the “boring” one who always wants to go home? If so, you might be a homebody. Regardless, you still like to travel and see new things, but you have a limited amount of time before you feel yourself itching to go back home. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for those who love to be on the move 24/7 to experience everything a place has to offer. Exhausting, right? Well, have no fear! In my infinite wisdom, which I have gained after a whole three weeks of being in D.C., I have devised a fool-proof system to having fun outdoors as a homebody.

First, you know those exhausting, always-on-the-move folks I mentioned earlier? Yeah, you need to find some of them. In my case, my roommates have been wonderfully adventurous and on the move. Although I initially found it overwhelming trying to keep up with them, I soon realized that 1) I don’t always have to keep up with them and 2) if not for them, I wouldn’t know where to go or be motivated enough to explore. I am infinitely grateful that my roommates always include me in theirs plans but are understanding of when I need to go home to recharge. Also, there are no rules to going out. Just because they’ve already arrived somewhere, doesn’t mean I can’t join later or leave early. So, go find yourself some adventurers to guide and motivate you.

Secondly, know your limits. Going out with friends, experiencing new things, all of that is wonderful. I’ve had so many good experiences with my roommates. This being said, I know when I need to go home and when I can allow myself some more time outside. There is nothing wrong with leaving a little early, even if fear of missing out is real. I won’t lie. Initially, it was hard to go home because I felt like a killjoy, but my roommates were more than accommodating and knew that my need to be home had nothing to do with my levels of enjoyment while out with them. Explain yourself well, and I promise your adventurers will understand, too! If not, find new ones. I swear they are everywhere.

Lastly, set a schedule for yourself. Currently, I am typically good to go out on Saturday. Friday can be arranged, and Sunday is usually spent indoors. Now, this is, of course, flexible. In times where plans change, I usually go from a day schedule to an hours schedule. So, instead of having designated rest days, I have a designated number of hours where I need to be home. This gives me more flexibility. Whichever works best for you, express it with those around you. Then, plans can be made that accommodate you while also allowing everyone to explore.
So, there you have it! An ultimate guide to enjoying a new city as a homebody. Always remember, you have plenty of time to explore, and not all fun has to be had outdoors.

Katherine Olvera
National Farmers Union
Washington, D.C. | Fall 2021

     1.Living with 3 strangers can actually be one of the best things ever

If you’re like me, you never lived with a stranger. You moved in with a friend from high school freshman year, and everyone you’ve lived with since has been someone you knew. With this in mind, thinking of living with strangers was a little scary. It turns out, it’s So. Much. Fun. We not only get to adventure together, but we also get to learn and grow from each other as well. These girls are the best roomies I could ask for, so definitely trust Erin and Stephanie when they say they’re good at roommate matching.

     2.The metro is actually pretty simple

As scary as it seems, the metro is not hard at all. Ride it twice, and you’ll be good to go. You can use your maps app on your phone to figure out which lines to take to get to different places, and every train says where it’s going on the outside, so you know exactly what to look for. Honestly, it becomes kind of fun because you start feeling like a local. 😉

     3.You get into the groove fairly quickly 

Getting acclimated to my work environment was one of my biggest worries. After all, we’re only here for three months; it honestly didn’t seem like enough time. Two weeks in, and I feel so welcomed. Coworkers and supervisors know you’re an intern, so they expect questions, welcome them, and they really want to help you!

     4.EVERYTHING, even the mistakes, is a learning opportunity 

You are going to make mistakes. Some tiny, some not so tiny. Regardless, use them! They are amazing learning opportunities. A huge part of this experience is growing as a person and learning the hard way. So, don’t beat yourself up or be too hard on yourself because every mistake means you are growing and getting better!

     5.People are actually nice

The biggest shock of all to me was how nice people are here. Everyone warned me before moving to watch out for people and to have tough skin because D.C. is one of the scariest/ meanest places. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Strangers will help you if you’re lost, metro workers will help you if your card isn’t working, and your neighbors can turn into friends!

Emma Golightly
National Association of Wheat Growers
Washington, D.C. | Fall 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