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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As I write this final blog post, I cannot believe that my time with Victory has come to an end. It’s difficult to synthesize my ten weeks on Capitol Hill because I feel compelled to perfectly capture the hectic atmosphere I grew to love.The Hill is something that you have to develop a love for. It’s demanding, hectic, and sometimes difficult to adapt to. Yet, everywhere you look, there are incredible opportunities. There were so many unexpected moments that became the highlights of these past two months: being able to have a sit-down meeting with a Congressman, attending countless briefings, and having a senator help my roommate and I take pictures in the Capitol Rotunda. Out of everything, I’ll miss the opportunities that come from being in this environment. It’s not every day that you casually get to experience these things, but the Hill makes it possible. Some of the most defining moments of this internship happened because I was simply around the Capitol after work. It’s just an outcome of being in this position.
It was a privilege to be surrounded by some of the most influential people in the country and learn from them. The environment of Capitol Hill is electric and charged with so much great potential. My supervisors regularly encouraged me to advocate for myself and flag events of interest. My favorite meetings to attend were usually hearings held by the Oversight Committee. Then there are the friends I met. I did not know it was possible to develop meaningful friendships in a matter of weeks until I met my fellow Victory and office interns. To have built something worth missing is the most valuable aspect of my experience on the Hill. Nothing bonds people like having to answer hundreds of calls together. It doesn’t hurt that I was also surrounded by incredible people who are passionate about public service.
I will also miss the smaller things: seeing the lone Cherry Blossom tree outside of the Longworth building, daily debrief sessions with my roommate, my little office desk, getting lunch with fellow interns, the lounge at As You Are, D.C. sunsets, and spontaneous nighttime trips to the National Mall.
I also want to highlight, again, that I was truly lucky to have been placed in the office of Congressman Greg Casar. The office has a robust program that fundamentally prepares interns to be successful beyond this experience. Because of their program, I was able to have these incredible learning opportunities. I also want to take a moment to formally thank my supervisors, staff, and the Congressman for making me feel welcome— especially as a queer person. It’s proof that the Hill has spaces that are safe for members of our community and that we can be free to take up space. There is so much care that exists within the office, and it was a pleasure to be a part of it.
This was the experience of a lifetime, and I will miss it dearly.
