Through this internship, I aided the office of the U.S. Senate Majority Leader with administrative and legislative responsibilities. I also had the opportunity to engage in the policy process through attending briefings, hearings, and floor debates, drafting memos and constituent letters, and conducting policy research. Finally, I communicated daily with constituents nationwide through phone correspondence, escorts, and leading U.S. Capitol tours.
This summer, I also had the opportunity to attend the 2024 NATO Summit. The office I interned with last year (Senator Jeanne Shaheen) invited me to attend, allowing me to meet world leaders and witness transatlantic security first-hand. This was made possible by my returning to D.C. through this internship, and demonstrating to my previous office that I took the experience they provided me last year and built upon it by advancing to the next step with the Senate Majority Leader's office.
My favorite part about this internship was that it allowed me to explore new policy areas and widen my interests. In my internship last year, I found myself only reaching out to staffers who worked in policy portfolios that I was very interested in. I spent this past school year reflecting on that, and regretted not broadening my horizons more when I had access to so many professionals. I realized I won't know what I'm passionate about until I step out of my comfort zone and explore. This summer, I made a conscious effort to reach out to staffers who worked in policy areas that I knew nothing about (i.e. healthcare and appropriations). I learned so much more this year by taking these steps, and found new policies I'm passionate about in the process. Not only was it a great policy lesson, but it was a great life lesson, reminding me to continue stepping outside of my comfort zone.
This opportunity allowed me to learn more about the policy process, strengthen my professional network, and clarify my career goals. I now know that I want to pursue a career in public service through a policy perspective, and I have gained the necessary skills, knowledge, and connections to do so. I will use this experience to help me take the next steps towards my career as I enter my final year at SLU. I cannot express enough the immense gratitude I have to have been offered this opportunity and been supported with the necessary resources to take full advantage of it.