A day in the life of a DC intern

The opportunity to grow personally and professionally in the nation’s capital is limitless

“Siri, play NPR.” 

It’s how I start most of my mornings as an intern in the District of Columbia. Every day, I go to work and live not so much as a college student, but as an adult who has been integrated into the workforce. I brew a fresh pot of coffee and slip into my business clothes before work.

After a significant amount of caffeine has entered my bloodstream, I grab my work bag and hustle to the nearest Metro station, my heels clacking on the sidewalk as Steve Inskeep’s voice briefs me on the morning news.

The District life is a fast-paced one — people are fast walkers, fast thinkers, and fast to make moves. After getting downtown and moving my way through hordes of busy people trying to get to work and honking cars, I arrive at my internship at 9 a.m.

I work for the United States Conference of Mayors, the official non-partisan organization of cities with a population of 30,000 or larger. We work to strengthen federal-city ties, provide mayors with leadership and management tools, and promote the development of cities nationwide.

After reading through a few New York Times and Washington Post stories, I check on the bill that my organization has been pushing to pass. It has been in the works for the past nine years, and it’s an important one. It could pass at any moment as Congress barrels toward the end of the fiscal year, so I need to keep my eye on it so I can write a press release and send it to our CEO if it gets passed.

I check on the bill consistently throughout the day in-between breaks from my other projects. One of the bigger projects I’ve worked on was developing the Alliance for a Sustainable Future report in preparation for the Global Climate Action Summit in collaboration with the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. I copy edited and finalized the 40-page report, communicated with guests about the summit, and helped tie together loose ends of the project to make it a clean, finalized product.

Another project I’m working on is the development of Opportunity Zones within cities. Essentially, Opportunity Zones allow for investment and growth in low-income areas of the United States. During one of my first days at work, I helped brief five different mayors of cities on their meeting with Secretary of the Treasury Mnuchin and sat in on a meeting with a senator afterward to discuss the issue. 

After a long day of negotiation and meetings with government officials, the mayors, members of my organization, and I took a break and had lunch at Michelle Obama’s purported favorite restaurant in the District (unfortunately, she was not there). The opportunity to meet with mayors of big cities and get a look into their thinking processes and daily lives was an incredible and special one that I’m not sure I would have gotten anywhere else.

I truly didn’t know I would have as much influence and input as I do at my organization as an intern. I was prepared to spend my days making coffee runs for my bosses and copying files, but instead, I’m briefing mayors, meeting with senators, and preparing for big conferences. The amount of work and information I’ve consumed in the past few weeks is incredible, and there’s so much more ahead of me as well. 

My life in the District doesn’t revolve entirely around my internship, however. My program also provides me with programs to further my professional development and the chance to take a class from a distinguished professor from the District universities. I’ve had the chance to network with employees of the White House, the Department of Justice, and other important organizations in the District.

All of the interns in my program live in an apartment together, and when the weekend hits, I take every opportunity I can to see what the nation’s capital has to offer. As an unpaid intern, I try to scout out as many free events and places as possible, but there’s no shortage here. From the Smithsonian museums to concerts by the National Symphony Orchestra on the Capitol lawn, I can find plenty of ways to stretch my budget. Even a stroll around the National Mall can be a fun-filled and entertaining day. The affordable and easy-to-use Metro system also allows me to navigate my way throughout the city without too much difficulty.

Even when the amount of money in my bank account is dangerously low, it doesn’t stop me from exploring local food joints and attending local street and farmer’s markets. The District is a wonderfully diverse city with people from all walks of life living in and visiting it, so there are lots of cultural events and restaurants to explore. Happy hour is huge here, and even if you’re not 21 or don’t drink, a lot of restaurants offer great deals on their food prices as well. 

The chance to spend a semester in the nation’s capital working is an incredible opportunity; I get a glimpse of what my life might be like after college. I get to live in an apartment in the middle of a big city where I have to shop for my own groceries and get around town by myself. Through my internship and program, I’ll hopefully discover my passions and career goals — and if I don’t, then I’ll know what I’m doing isn’t right for me. 

The District is a magical city filled with opportunity and limitless things to do. To anyone thinking about spending a summer or semester here through The Washington Center — I highly recommend doing so. It’s a unique opportunity that will put you ahead of the game career-wise and allow you to explore your future options and the magnificent capital of our nation. 

Despite the uncertainty that faces the United States in the future, seeing the Washington Monument every day never fails to inspire a bit of awe in me. Living here, working here, gives me hope for both my own and the nation’s future, and I sincerely think anyone else who chooses to participate in this program will feel the same.