Major: Political Science

Internship: Office of Congressman Mike Thompson and the Political Violence Lab

Participated: Summer 2024

Tell us about your internships - what kind of work did you do?
At Congressman Thompson's office, I mostly did work assisting constituents (answering/recording constituent phone calls, scheduling tours, etc). However, I also had an opportunity to help the person in charge of communications with recording/editing footage of the Congressman at a press conference, which was interesting. I also was able to attend some briefings.

At the Political Violence Lab, I along with another intern led a team doing data entry work. We developed the methodology for how the lab recorded/categorized several different sets of data from different sources, and then worked together to write subsections for the appendix of the paper the lab is currently writing explaining our thought process/digging a bit more into the minutiae of that data. Although this work could be monotonous at times, it was very rewarding to be able to have such a direct impact, and troubleshooting the various issues that came up was an interesting challenge. 

Have your career goals changed as a result of your internship?

My experience with my two different internships have made me realize how much better I function in specific types of work environments. At Congressman Thompson’s office, it didn’t feel like there was a lot of freedom to choose how to do things; as a result, I had to constantly be checking in with my supervisor, which was frustrating as she was often too busy to answer my questions right away. In contrast, at the Political Violence Lab, there was a lot of latitude to point out potential ideas to investigate/suggest ways to improve already existing processes/etc., which I really appreciated. Although this insight hasn’t made me change my career plans per se, it’s definitely something I’ll want to be aware of as I consider different jobs post-college.

Tell us about an exciting memory from your internship!

During my congressional internship, I played softball with my coworkers on the lawn between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial after work a few times. I wasn’t very good about it, but I had a lot of fun (and also ate some very overpriced but delicious ice cream while waiting for my turn to bat). 

Did your internship lead to any opportunities?

Yes, my congressional internship gave me the opportunity to go to some briefings, and as a part of my internship at the Political Violence Lab I went to several think tank events. I also have the opportunity to continue work with the Political Violence Lab in the fall, and I know that the Political Violence Lab will be a future networking resource for me, as Dr. Shaver sometimes posts job opportunities being offered by people he knows & offers to serve as a reference for people from the lab. 

Share a story about something special you did in Washington!

I really enjoyed visiting the National Gallery of Art. They had a program for drawing different statues/details of different pieces of art, which actually inspired me to start drawing different sights around DC in general. Now I have a bunch of drawings of plants in the National Botanic Gardens, local shops I like, the metro, etc. to help me remember DC by. 

How has living in the nation's capital for a quarter changed you?

I think living in DC has made me realize how much I take certain cultural norms for granted; norms around dressing in DC, for instance, are very different. The working culture in DC also feels very different to me. Although I ultimately don't know that I'll want to work on the East Coast in the future, I think that knowing these differences is helpful both to understanding people from this area, and to being able to keep an open mind more broadly. 

What advice would you like to share with future UCDC participants?

For women working Congressional internships: I would strongly advise against wearing heels when walking to work! Wear sneakers while walking, then change while on the Metro. This will significantly cut down on the amount of time you have to actually spend walking in heels, and also will make it easier to get to the Metro quickly if you’re running a little late.