Category: Uncategorized
Steve Sisto
How To Network As An Introvert
By Steve Sisto
Spring 2015
If you’re an introvert like me, then the idea of networking is absolutely terrifying. As an introvert, social interaction is already difficult. Why in the world would I want to go out of my way to meet new people and be social? I think I’ll just stay with my small group of friends, enclosed from everyone else… If only that were possible. The truth is that in D.C., networking is simply a part of life. For introverts like me, this is terrible news.
Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and meet new people! Photo courtesy of Shutterstock user Ulegundo
Christopher Grover
How I Learned to Not Worry and Love the Semester
By Christopher Grover
Spring 2015
I had not originally planned on studying abroad, especially in Washington DC. The idea popped into my head about a week before classes began for the fall of 2014 and my eyes were on the programs in Morocco, Switzerland, and Israel. Realizing that I was junior and was in desperate need of experience for my resume, I decided to apply for the Washington, DC program since it is more career based. Once accepted, I applied to as many internships as possible and ended up interning at the US Senate. The largest learning experience this semester, however, was not so much with the internship, but the entire lifestyle that is different from university life.
Paula Garcia
5 Grocery Shopping Tips for the Unpaid Intern in DC
By Paula Garcia
Spring 2015
- Choose a grocery store that fits your needs: Safeway and Giant are both easily accessible from the Debonair. I personally prefer the Safeway in Adams Morgan because it's only a 15 minute walk or you can take the Circulator, which costs $1 each way, while the Giant is either a 30 minute walk or two stops north on the metro and costs $2.50 each way. However, for people who like frozen meals or specific brand names, Giant is the better option. Either way, I recommend you choose the one that meets your needs and stick with it for the semester.
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Devon King
Making your D.C. Bucket List
By Devon King
Spring 2015
When you first get to D.C. you’re going to feel overwhelmed—there’s so much to do here and you might only have one semester to do it. You’ll have to weigh your options to see what you should pay for, what’s 100% necessary to do, and what you wouldn’t mind missing out on. The best way to do this is a Bucket List, your must-do’s of D.C. Everyone will tell you what’s on their bucket list, but what do you quintessentially need to do? Here are my 16 suggestions:
- Visit all 17 Smithsonian Museums that are located in the Greater D.C. area. They’re all free, all interesting, and a great way to kill a Saturday afternoon.
- Go on a night tour of the monuments. It’s one thing to see them during the day, but it’s another to see them lit up, with fewer crowds. No matter the weather, you’ll enjoy this.
Photo Credit: Old Town Trolley Tours
Katie Hunter
In What Ways Is Washington Similar To Boston? In What Ways Is It Different?
By Katie Hunter
Fall 2014
Boston is very much its own city. It has its own revolutionary history with Paul Revere and the Boston Massacre. Even in recent tragedies, it has come out strong. In the wake of the Boston Marathon Bombing, the city as a whole united to become “Boston Strong.” The city of Boston has strong identity. It is not the only city that has a clear sense of self. Washington, DC has a similar culture and historic center and one that has already made an impact on me. Being raised in the Washington DC area, I definitely see DC in a new light after this semester.
Ashli Tagoai
How Does Your Internship Relate To Your Major?
By Ashli Tagoai
Fall 2014
I have spent my semester interning at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF); a Congressionally appointed, nonpartisan, government agency committed to monitoring religious violence across the world. As an International Relations major, it has been a great experience to see how a U.S. government agency works with international religious leaders, prime ministers, and ambassadors to make sure that basic human rights and religious freedom are a reality for all people. Countless hours of research go into the Commission’s annual report, and I’m very lucky to be a part of the work that the staff and Commissioners do to make religious freedom a priority in America. After all, the global effort to uphold human rights is one of the reasons why I love being an International Relations major.
Harsh Gupta
What Policy Issue Are You Most Following While In Washington?
By Harsh Gupta
Fall 2014
When it comes to the federal court system, outside observers, such as the media – and the public in general – tend to view the courts as fair, independent arbiters of justice, uninfluenced by the political partisanship that plagues Congress. Most individuals who are indifferent about the judiciary tend to assume that the courts are separate from the rest of government or that judges come to occupy their benches in a manner unadulterated by ideology. But the more I become acquainted with the judicial confirmation process, the more it seems the system of checks and balances tips away from this view.
Graciela Mariño
How Was Your Adjustment To Washington? How Did It Compare To The First Few Weeks On Campus Back In Boston?
By Graciela Mariño
Fall 2014
When I arrived in DC in late summer (last week of August), I noticed the hot sun on my skin while the typical warm end-of-summer breeze comfortably brushed through my hair. I remember seeing the Capitol Dome for the first time on my first full weekend here…a structure both rigid and monumental, while also majestic. Behind me, the Washington monument stood tall; this is known as the landmark that allows tourists to identify the city from a distance. I spent my first day in Washington D.C. walking through the National Mall and taking in the grandeur of the nation’s capital. It was not my first time in D.C., but it was the first time that I realized what this city means; the first time that I felt I understood its history, its people, its architecture and buildings. It was the first time I saw myself living here and being part of this complex, passionate, and powerful community.
Or Ashkenazi
How were your first two months of the semester in Washington? How does it compare to the first few weeks or months of a semester on campus?
By Or Ashkenazi
Fall 2014
My first two months in Washington D.C. were definitely action packed. Although I didn’t leave the country for my “abroad” experience, the feeling was very similar – there was so much to see and so many places to explore. I’ve been to D.C. in the past, but it’s different seeing it independently, without your family or friends. Washington, as a city, is so different culturally from Boston. The people are different, the layout out of the city is different, and most importantly, the metro system is different (and it’s super embarrassing when you accidentally call it “the T”… even two months into the semester). Besides the new and temporary location, my routine is completely different. I work every morning and take classes every night. I’m way busier than I ever was on campus. I had maintained a job while going to school in Boston… but not like this, not at this pace.
Audrey Xiong
How Is My Internship Related to My Major?
By Audrey Xiong
Summer 2014
I’m working as a social media intern at 100Reporters, a nonprofit investigative reporting organization in Washington DC. I’ve studied Business for three years, and have just started pursuing a second degree in Public Relations in the spring semester (2014). When I was applying to different internship positions, a question often arose: What are the advantages, if any, of double-majoring in Business and PR?
