Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy Internship Program
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Four Lessons I’ve Learned as a Congressional Intern

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

The Congressional Snack Trade: and how to run it.

Working in a congressional office can be hectic. However, there are times when the office gets slow, and you start to think about your lunch, but it is only 10. Even worse, you think about the chicken parmesan you are cooking at home that night and then realize it’s only 3:15. Luckily, since the district you work for has a Mars Bars Factory, you can run over to the kitchen and grab something to hold you over. However, the best part is the small-scale trade wars that are occurring throughout the day when an office gets slow and people are craving something to snack on. Below are the tricks of the trad(ing) that have helped our office.

  1. Do not cold call offices for trades.

Cold calling an office shows weakness and a little bit of desperation. By doing so, they immediately get the upper hand and then hold all the cards. On the flip side of that, if someone else cold calls, let them tell you everything their office has. Beware though, if someone is cold calling, its usually because they are either trying to trade a perishable or something that is expired. The best way to bring up trade so far that I have noticed is casually mentioning a snack you recently had.

  1. If you are not getting the right snacks, you do not have to trade.

This one is relatively straightforward; if they are trying to trade something that you do not want, there is no obligation for you to do so. Someone might try to make it sound like that through an email or over the phone, but it is not true.

  1. Always go to their office to trade and bring another intern.

This part can be tricky. Speaking from experience, it can get dicey, and an ambush is very possible. However, if you bring another intern, the odds of a failed trade go down significantly. While there you can always see if they will throw anything extra in to sweeten the deal.

ADVANCED LEVEL ONLY:

  1. Show up with less than agreed upon. Or at least make it seem that way.

If you show up into the office with less than agreed upon and your office is far away, more often than not, they will still want to make a trade and you might be able to get more per case of Dr. Pepper than you would have with two. The best part about this is you can always leave one out the door. That way if they become hesitant, but your office still wants to make the trade, all bets are not off yet.

If you are willing to stick to this advice before you know it, the LA who covers trade policy in your office might become quite impressed. Now, does a snickers sound good or what?

Below is the Washington Nationals baseball game we went to; the snacks here were not as easy to acquire.

Ryan Rakowitz
Office of Congressman Kevin Brady
Washington, D.C. | Summer 2021

Day in the Life of an Online Press Intern

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to serve as a congressional intern hundreds of miles away from Washington D.C.? I was wondering that exact thought as I transitioned my internship with Congressman Kevin Brady to a virtual setting this fall. I’m sharing a day in my life as a virtual intern and all the great things I’ve gained even though I wasn’t able to be in D.C.

Since my freshman year of college serving as an intern through the ANRP program has always been a dream! Hearing from former interns during informationals about their incredible experiences and travels while working in D.C. always inspired me. So when I had the opportunity to work for my congressional representative, Kevin Brady, as a Press Intern I never would have imagined I would not make it to the capital. Due to pandemic and other personal circumstances I decided it would be best for me to transition to a remote setting for the semester.

While I’m working from Aggieland, I’ve still had the chance to work on a wide range tasks while remote and keeping me on my toes this semester to say the least. Here’s what a normal day working from home looks like for me:

  • Wake up around 7am to get around and have a cup of coffee before starting on my daily reports and duties.
  • After finishing my daily reports, I’ll usually take care of any work I have for my classes through Texas A&M.
  • Since I am working remotely, I keep my laptop with me anywhere I go in case I get an assignment from anyone at the office and can stay up to date with work. I’ll make sure and take care of any additional assignments I have throughout the day. Some of the tasks I have done throughout the semester include transcribing and summarizing interviews, drafting newsletters and updates to constituents, and listening and taking notes in meetings and press conferences.
  • I’ll wind down at the end of the day by checking local news sources for interesting activities and stories happening in the district for my weekly assignment of finding stories that are shared on the Congressman’s social media accounts or researching for my semester long research project.

Although this experience isn’t what I would have imagined it to be originally, I’m so grateful for the life and professional skills I’ve gained throughout my time working remote. It’s also been a blessing to be surrounded by the support of my family and friends with my increased workload and in dealing with the stresses of the pandemic. It also helped to have my “co-worker” Tortellini by my side while I’ve worked from home this semester. I would encourage anyone considering ANRP to make the best of the opportunity even it is only from home!

Grace Crow
Office of Congressman Kevin Brady
Washington, D.C. | fall 2020

5 Lessons I Learned as a Virtual Intern in 2020

This year has been a time of ups, downs, and absolute craziness. Whether it was a global pandemic, wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington, or the presidential election, nothing this year has been predictable or average. Despite the setbacks of 2020, my internship this fall semester with the House Committee on Agriculture has been nothing short of amazing!

My name is Anna Lad, and I’m a master’s student currently studying Science and Technology Journalism here at Texas A&M, after graduating in May ’20 with a Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences degree. However, this semester, I was able to be part of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy (ANRP) internship program as a virtual intern.

During the months I’ve interned virtually for the Ag Committee, I’ve learned a bevy of new things. However, I think these five are the ones that will stick with me for years to come!

  1. Don’t be afraid to Ask Questions! – Washington D.C. is a networking community. Most tasks, assignments, and jobs are all passed on via word-of-mouth. Because I’m a virtual intern, I have to be more intentional. This semester, I’ve learned to email people I’ve never met and ask for a 15-minute Zoom coffee, something that was pretty daunting at first. I make sure to be more attentive in meetings and briefings as well as ask questions right away. In non-Covid times, I could just swing by a person’s desk. Now, I make sure to cover all my bases or else the email chains get way too long!
  2. Keep a Record of People You Meet – There are a lot of people in Washington D.C. You want to remember as many as possible – not because ‘she who networks the most wins’, but because most people are genuine fountains of knowledge and advice. If you have a terrible memory, like me – or even if you don’t – an address book or excel sheet is a great idea. In mine, I list everyone I’ve “met” with in virtual meetings, what we talked about, and when. That way, I can thank them for their time, follow up later, and keep tabs on my assignments. To be honest, it’s just great to put faces to names. The rapidly changing nature of the House this fall only makes it even more crucial to get to know everyone.
  3. It’s OK if you get COVID-19! My supervisor and my coworkers were so understanding when I came down with coronavirus midway through October. Luckily, I had a mild case and was only out for a few days. Because I was virtual, I could return to the work-from-home life while my quarantine was still in effect.
  4. Set up an Office Schedule & Area – It’s so important to be able to manage your time wisely, especially if you have a lot going on! I’m in an interesting spot because I’m interning part-time for the House Agriculture Committee, while starting grad school full time here at Texas A&M. I had to come up with some effective organization solutions really quickly. That included:
    • Time blocking my days for school and my internship
    • Doing ANRP work only at my desk (except when it’s nice outside!)
    • Reading up on background information in my spare time
  1. Dress Up for Work – We’re all familiar with the pajama pants + dress shirt combination. That doesn’t mean it’s a good one, however. Putting on business casual clothes for my virtual meetings and projects helped me to get in the professional mindset. I’m not saying jacket and heels, but it was definitely a beneficial mental shift to prepare beforehand. Since virtual interns can’t commute to work, I think we miss out on the transition to that mindset. I’ve found that maintaining business casual clothes helps me get ready for working.

These are just a few of the lessons I’ve learned in the last few months in my internship with the House Committee on Agriculture.

What have your experiences working or interning during this pandemic taught you? What advice would you give to other students?

Anna Lad
House Committee on Agriculture
Washington, D.C. | fall 2020

Falling in Love with Policy

If you were to tell me at the beginning of my freshman year in college that I would be interning in a congressional office after graduation, I would tell you that would absolutely never happen… BUT now you’re reading my ANRP blog post.

Fall 2016 was my first semester at Texas A&M, and the year I became registered to vote. In high school, I was oblivious to anything related to government, but starting college opened my eyes into the world of policy. I think it’s important the readers know that I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and plan to go to Dental School within the next couple of years. I thrived in STEM classes so I was not excited that I would have to take two political science classes in college. While taking these classes I was able to appreciate government and did a lot of personal growing up and realized that everyone is affected by government policies, and that you should care about what our political leaders are working on. After hearing about the ANRP Internship program I thought applying for it would be my next step in understanding the whole process of how things happen in Washington DC.

While being up here I was able to experience how a congressional office works, even in the midst of a pandemic. I also learned that congressional offices work continuously to improving their community and the lives of their constituents. It was also very memorable to be in our nation’s capital this past presidential election. Looking back at 2016, I regret not voting because that is the only thing we as citizens can do, especially as a woman it’s important that we practice this right that was given to us. I’m very hopeful for the future and can’t wait to continue falling in love with policy.

Zenaida Alamiz
Office of Congressman Filemon Vela
Washington, D.C. | fall 2020

The Little Blessings in Strange Times

2020 is a year in American history like 1941 and 1776 that although people at the time did not want due to major interruptions in normal life, generations afterward still study to learn how the people of the time overcame such great obstacles. Back in February when I applied for ANRP, I would not have wanted the current situation; however, one day l want to look back and remember the unique opportunities this strange time brought me and how I used them to better myself as a person. Below are three things I have learned that have allowed me to maximize my extremely unique ANRP experience.

  1. There is always a silver lining – I find it important to view my DC experience as unique, and not worse or limited. The COVID era has brought changes, but not every change is necessarily bad. As a congressional intern one opportunity I have taken full advantage of is having unlimited access to the US Capitol. In particular, while normally the rotunda is a bustling, noisy place with the suspension of tours I often just sit on the benches, with the whole area literally to myself, and read in the quiet or admire the beautiful artwork that graces the entire dome.
  2. Use the extra free time well – With no visitors to the office much of my job as an intern has been taken away, but with less work comes more free time. With that time, I have toured the National Mall, visited Baltimore, National Park areas, and even read books I had put off. Bottom line, I use every day to its fullest, even if it is not what I thought it would be.
  3. Take advantage of every opportunity – Even during these strange times, I still choose to take advantage of the opportunities that have not been closed. Last weekend the annual White House garden tour, though modified, was still put on and so I grabbed a few of my roommates and went. What an amazing experience too, walking through the historic Rose Garden, seeing through the windows of the Oval Office, and taking up-close pictures of the White House. It was every history nerd’s dream!

I realize we are all facing many of the same challenges in this strange time, but I have learned to not just look to the future but seize every opportunity offered today.

James Hodges
Office of Congressman Jodey Arrington
Washington, D.C. | fall 2020

Advice from an Introvert

I am an introvert through and through. A few weeks ago I moved to a city I had never been to before, became roommates with two girls I had never met, started a new job, and I have done all of this in the middle of a pandemic. Since I have been here, I have walked like 100 miles, had about 1,000 Zoom meetings, and met 21 new people. As an introvert, it was an extremely overwhelming situation. However, I would not trade it for the world! Even though I have only been here for two weeks, I have made great friends, learned so much, and am already making plans to move here! If I could give any advice to my fellow introverts, it would include the following:

  • Take meeting new people one day at a time! Start with your roommates and go from there.
  • Bring any game you could possibly think of! This is a great way to break the ice and takes the pressure off of you. Our cohort has game nights almost every night.
  • Playing sports is always a fun and easy way to get to know a larger group of people.
  • Don’t worry about! At the end of the day, everyone is in the same boat as you. Just be yourself!

I was surprised at how quickly I was able to make friends. We have already explored D.C., visited a national park, and have had multiple game nights/sports outings. I am so excited for the opportunity to get to know everyone better over the rest of the semester!

Mackenzie Jeter
National Farmers Union
Washington, D.C. | fall 2020

How to Make the Most Out of a Reopening District of Columbia

Due to increasing COVID-19 concerns, this establishment is temporarily closed or not operating in its normal capacity until further notice.

These seem to be words that have become far too familiar to us and the rest of the world over these last few months. With most of our country being in a state of slow reopening, most of the everyday things and activities we’ve become so accustomed to have been limited or scaled back to some degree. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make the most of the situation by striving to find the little silver linings that are still all around us. Through this internship we have a unique opportunity to be living in the heart of our nation’s capital and only have but a few months to take advantage of it. Even though not everything here is fully open and operational just yet, I still plan to make my time here a great adventure. So here is some of my advice of how I have been able to make the most of a socially distant district.

  1. Find some fun outdoor spaces and explore!

We happen to have an Aggie cohort that loves to be active and outside, so one of the first daytrips we took outside of the city was visiting Shenandoah National Park. This park is roughly a two-and-a-half-hour drive into northern Virginia and it was worth every second of the journey. We went on a gorgeous scenic hike to the highest peak in the national park and it was a beautiful escape into nature and it was very breathtaking to see such a pretty part of this side of the country. Any chance you can get to get out and see new parts of the area, I highly encourage it! There is so much more places to explore and see around us than you think!

  1. Do you research and make some reservations!

Whether it be restaurants in the area that are starting to have their dining rooms open up again or museums and exhibits that have limited occupational capacities, there are still plenty of places to go visit during these unprecedented times. When I say do your research, look into what is and isn’t open around the city and make reservations ahead of time to secure a time to go venture with your friends and enjoy what the DMV area still has to offer!

  1. Make the National Mall your favorite picnic location!

One of DC’s constants during this pandemic has been the National Mall stretch. Thanks to it being completely outdoors and having plenty of room to be socially distant, one of the capital’s monumental staples is still free and available for the public to see and enjoy. This nearly two mile park is home to many of our nation’s most famous monuments, mixed in with a few reflection pools and lots of stretches of grass which are the perfect set up for a picnic or a day off from work. One of my favorite things that we have done since being here is we had a just girl’s day where we made a charcuterie board and ate it right under the Washington Monument. Talk about a one-of-a-kind view. It’s the simple things like that lead to the best of days and memories made with friends!

  1. Get outside your comfort zone and make new friends and connections!

One of the neatest parts of the ANRP/PPIP programs is that you get to live with other Aggies. Moving to an entirely different city halfway across the country can definitely be intimidating so it’s such a great comfort to be surrounded by other Aggies that are facing the same transition as you, it’s like already having a built in support system. As easy as it is to just hang out with the friends from the A&M cohort, I challenge you to still get outside of your comfort zone and get to know new people in and around the area. Whether that be other Aggies that are outside the cohort on the hill, or some of your fellow interns in your office, take advantage of every opportunity to network and make a new friend. You never know where that relationship or interaction may take you later in life, especially if you make your way back to DC later down the road.

  1. Take advantage of the Metro not being crowded!

This is one of the only things I think we can truly thank COVID-19 for. With most people and companies choosing to telework in the city until the end of the calendar year, that makes DC’s famous public transportation system far less crowded than normal. This makes for peaceful and easy commutes to and from work and less impacted peak travel times. Also who doesn’t love having the assurance of always being able to find a seat while riding the Metro.

  1. *BONUS* For those that are working on the hill in person, use that intern badge to its fullest potential!

The Capitol, House, and Senate buildings may be closed to the public but if you happen to be fortunate enough to be working in person in one of them, explore! Take that extra walk back from lunch and see the unseen parts of our nation’s capital, ask your supervisor to give you a tour of where you work. This may be one of the only times in your life where you will have this type of opportunity and access to see these neat places where history is quite literally made every day. Show off that intern badge and enjoy the ride and the perks that come along with it!

At the end of the day, this internship is completely what you make of it so why not make the best of it! Sure, COVID-19 has certainly altered some of the normalcy that would traditionally come along with this program but that doesn’t make this particular experience any less special. Take advantage of all that you can in the city but most of all enjoy yourself, embrace the journey, and make DC your home for the time being!

Macey Hammerstrom
House Committee on Agriculture – minority office
Washington, D.C. | fall 2020

Working from Home Has Its Perks

When finding out my internship would start remotely, I was pretty bummed, but within a few days of working from home I realized it isn’t so bad. While I would prefer to go into the office, interact with my collogues, and get the full D.C. experience, commuting to the couch sure is a lot easier than using the Metro. Here are some ways I have embraced a remote internship.

  1. Cohort Bonding – With these unfortunate times, it comes as no surprise that many of my fellow interns are also working via the Buchanan Apartments. We have found different ways to make working from our living rooms, a little more bearable. Sometimes we work outside enjoying this beautiful D.C. Weather or venture to each other’s apartments for a little change of scenery. We are spending a little more time together than expected, but I know great friendships will come of it.

 

  1. Casual Work Attire – Probably one of the best perks of working remotely is being able to wear a much more relaxed wardrobe. For the occasional zoom meeting, I pull out the business professional clothes, but I bet my house shoes didn’t expect to get this much fame in the big city.

 

  1. I’ll Never Go Hungry – This may not be the healthiest perk, but my kitchen is only a few steps away from my office. I always have my snacks available, and I never have to worry about finding something to eat while working because I’ll just whip something up in my apartment.

 

  1. There is Still Plenty to Explore – Even though I don’t see much of D.C. during the workday, there is still so much to do and see when off the clock. Thankfully, D.C. is still functioning and us interns can explore the city and enjoy the sites. Whether it is a monument, a park, or a must try restaurant, it is exciting to take in all D.C. has to offer.

We are living in a pretty interesting time, where learning to adapt has become a part of our everyday lives. I am so grateful my internship was able to be adapted to a remote format. It is not completely ideal for what I expected out of my internship experience, but it has been nice to embrace the unique opportunity. How will you embrace your next unique challenge?

Michelle Sutton
National Association of Wheat Growers
Washington, D.C. | fall 2020

Red, White and Blonde: What Elle Woods Didn’t Tell You About Life in our Nation’s Capital

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