Category: Uncategorized
Hannah Lowry
The Networking Experience In Washington
By Hannah Lowry
Summer 2014
When I first arrived on the scene in Washington DC, the only thing people talked about was networking. “Everyone has networking events, conference, happy hours, dinners…. Anything you could ever think of” or “Your boss will take you out to lunch or sit down with you. This is the best opportunity to network in your office. Take every chance you get!” That was all I seemed to hear in the nation’s capital. As the summer progressed, other interns from the program came home at night, ranting about an event they’d been to and about the people they’d been able to meet. Some students ordered business cards, once they realized that they had a place to distribute them.
Justin Ford
How Does My Internship Relate to My Major?
By Justin Ford
Summer 2014
As an International Relations major with a concentration in foreign policy and security studies as well as an Arabic minor, I knew that coming to Washington for an internship would be a great opportunity to finally gain real world experience in these areas. I realized that Boston had some, but not a lot of related opportunities that I could take advantage of during the summer before my senior year. So after applying for many internships, I finally received one with the National Defense University.
Karolyne Ridgill
How Does Your Internship Relate to Your Major?
By Karolyne Ridgill
Summer 2014
“What do you do with an English degree?” These words have been uttered so frequently to undergrads pursuing a B.A. in English, the question is the title of a song in a popular Broadway musical. While a sincere question on the surface, most English majors have learned that “What do you want to do with an English degree?” translates roughly to “What job do you think you can get with such a useless degree?” I know, of course, that English is far from a useless degree. On the contrary, English is so useful it can be applied to jobs and careers in nearly every field; the world will always need excellent writers and analyzers. This, you see, is my problem. With so many career options, I don’t know what I will “do with my English degree.” My decision to come to Washington was made, in part, to see if the city could offer any ideas as to what I want to do after graduation.
Sarah Cohen
The Differences and Similarities between DC and Boston
By Sarah Cohen
Summer 2014
Prior to arriving in DC, I imagined it to be the almost identical to Boston but just with aggressively political individuals. Sure enough, I was spot on about the characteristics of DC inhabitants but was completely off about the overall vibe of the city. Unlike Boston, DC has no high-rise buildings but what it lacks in skyscrapers it makes up for, tenfold, in efficient public transportation. That’s right, the most obvious difference is how easy it is to get around here! Despite the Space Mountain-esque decent underground to get to the Metro, my morning and afternoon commute are probably one of the easiest parts of my day. Additionally, I feel as though DC just has a little more liveliness within the city. Regardless of the slightly older average age of DC residents, there is electricity in the air; everyone is on the go and doesn’t have a second to waste!
Michael R. Maloof
The difference between the Washington, DC my grandfather saw and the one I am currently in
By Michael R. Maloof
Summer 2014
All my life I’ve been interested in politics; my love for American history quickly grew into the realization that politics is what shapes and alters our future. Growing up in Warwick, RI my grandfather told me stories of his post-college days on the Hill working in congressional offices and eventually his time spent at the American Bankers Association (ABA). I always read about political divisions and the problems that occurred with two parties that saw things differently on a number of issues; but I was always told that DC wasn’t as bad as it looked in the media, that within the problems, answers could be met and results would eventually be found.
Understanding American history is what allows me to compare and contrast different time periods of political turmoil and conclude that we are missing one important aspect that no longer allows for the country to see results, but instead a “do nothing” Congress – lack of leadership.
Rebecca Reilly
What has encapsulated the Washington Experience thus far?
By Rebecca Reilly
Summer 2014
I could not wait to put on my American Flag socks.
I like to joke that I only came to DC for the patriotic apparel—I’m only half kidding. I was waiting for the Fourth of July this year for what seemed like forever and it came and went just as I expected! Independence Day in Washington made it even more socially acceptable to don the American flag socks and bow tie.
On the 4th of July in DC, tourists storm the streets of Washington, flowing down the sidewalks en route to the National Mall. The nearby hurricane has shaken no spirits; YOU CANNOT STOP AMERICA.
The Fourth of July is the epitome of the Washington experience; the levels of American spirit on this day are through the roof. The National Mall is the ultimate stretch of spirit on this day with family, friends, and lovers scattered across the grass with their blankets and picnics, waving the miniature American flag they bought from a vender on the sidewalk. Laughter and music are the sounds heard through the day as we all await the glorious firework display.
Boris Kong
How was your first month of your semester in Washington DC? How does it compare to the first few weeks of a semester on campus?
By Boris Kong
Summer 2014
The Washington DC summer program is one that will accelerate rapidly and end in a flash, which is why one should be carefully allocate one’s time while here. During the first couple weeks in the nation’s capital, most of our time was predominately spent exploring the city and understanding the areas around us. On the first day, even the area around Woodley Park, where the Residence Hall is located, seemed confusing. The first priority we needed to figure out was the location of restaurants, supermarkets, and pharmacies in the nearby area. As the week progressed with orientation, we began to take the metro and Circulator bus out to other neighborhoods within the city. We learned to use the local public transportation pretty quickly and that allowed us to further expand beyond our local setting and truly get to know the city. Even getting to the BU office in DuPont Circle at first seemed like a hike, but as time passed, the entire area surrounding DuPont became somewhat of an extension of our territory in Woodley Park. In addition to improving our navigation skills in Washington, we had to quickly get acquainted with our work and academic schedules. The first week of orientation was filled with group events and we were given plenty of spare time to rest and relax. However, as our internships and classes began, our schedules started to rapidly fill up. While here, we’re tasked with working full-time Monday through Thursday during the day, while we take two courses at night meeting two-three times per week which leaves us with few nights off. The standard work schedule often runs from 9 am to 5 pm, with classes running from 6 to 9 pm. Making time to have dinner is a challenge, given the schedule—any free time is then taken up by focusing on one’s assignments and/or getting much needed rest at the end of every working day.
Meera Nayak
What is your favorite DC museum and why?
By Meera Nayak
Summer 2014
The Corcoran Gallery of Art
As I entered the rotunda of this beautiful building, Venus greeted me in a magnificent light display. The colors carried me up the stairs to the modern and contemporary art galleries where I recognized Rothko, witnessed Warhol’s take on Mao, and was blown away by Joan Mitchell’s nearly wall-to-wall oil on canvas. I got a taste of Washington’s minimalism—breaking the world down into its smallest bits, and then creating phenomenal pieces out of them.
Whether inside the House of Representatives or outside in the Wild West, I was taken on an American journey through “Visions of Place.” After indulging in some Ansel Adams photography, I finished with an escape to “An Intimate View” with the European collection. French Realism, British portraits, and interpretations of Italian architecture fill the golden frames. My orange pin will always remain a memento of these incredible private holdings.
Navraj Narula
What policy or issue are you most following while in Washington?
By Navraj Narula
Summer 2014
I am not a news junkie. You have every right to call me ignorant. I mean, I am here in Washington, D.C. and I walk past the man at the Woodley Park metro station trying to hand me a newspaper: “Sorry, sir, but I’d rather pair my morning coffee with fiction.” That was me during my first two weeks in this amazing, amazing city.
Mackenzie Marcotte
What policy or issue are you most following while in Washington?
By Mackenzie Marcotte
Summer 2014
Living in a city of hyper-informed political junkies may well intimidate the average person out of trying to keep up with policy issues, and yet the intoxicating passion and drive of D.C. seems to have the opposite effect. But if you plan to stay afloat, you need to choose an issue and start reading. For me, it’s the environment.
