OUT ON THE HILL is the official blog of the Victory Congressional Interns. Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of LGBTQ Victory Institute. Learn more about the internship at victoryinstitute.org/vci.
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I have been in Washington, DC for just over a week now and I have absolutely fallen in love with the city. The city breathes-in networking and politics while breathing out a beautiful art and history scene. Every breath I take is a new and exciting experience of immersive culture.
I think I have learned more in my first week on the Hill than I have in my entire college experience. The work is so hands on. Instead of running coffee to my boss, I am collaborating with her to write constituent correspondences and draft legislative proposals. The exposure to the tangible experience in the House of Representatives has opened my eyes to the realities of the legislative process and I am enamored by the whole process. I am working remotely for the time being, but it has provided a unique native experience.
After migrating between every single chair in my apartment throughout the day, I carry my restless body outside to explore the city and escape my room. From the neighborhood coffee shop to the Smithsonian, there is so much to see and do and I have loved all of it.
My favorite part of the internship so far has been the relationships I am building within my cohort and with my colleagues. I stayed up late with the other interns just talking last weekend. We met up with some of past Victory Congressional Internship (VCI) alumni for dinner and it instantly expanded my circle acquiring a safety net of peers. The people here are incredible and I love them all.
Victory Institute has provided a unique experience on the Hill by putting us in extremely inclusive offices with supportive staff. They gave us an amazing place to live. They provided mentors and networking opportunities that allow for a solid foundation that will surely lead to a successful career. They have created a community of inclusivity in DC and around the nation that I am honored to now be a part of. They have supplied exposure to the applicable experiences we need to continue opening doors after this internship. I love the people, I love the city, and I love VCI.
