Although Washington, D.C. may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of places to spend your summer in, it very quickly became one of my favorite places. The greenery, architecture, amazing coffee shops/food, and even the hills became some of my favorite parts. Walking everywhere and taking the Metro took some getting used to but by the end of the summer, it was second nature. The U.S. Capitol being my backyard became normal.
Interning in Congressman Henry Cuellar’s office consisted of lots of coffee, working with amazing staffers, meeting some great interns from all over the world, and experiencing a side of press and media work that was new to me. The position allowed me to grow personally and professionally. The office felt like home. It felt like I belonged there, like the best case of being in the right place at the right time.
The beauty of Washington, D.C. and its surrounding areas is hard to put into words but I’m going to try. One of my favorite experiences in D.C. is kayaking on the Potomac River, which is just relaxing and fun as it is beautiful. For a first-time kayaker, it was the perfect scenery. It made me really wish that Lubbock was near a body of water.
Another amazing outdoor experience was hiking up Old Rag Mountain in Virginia. It was a short two hour drive out from D.C. and man, it was worth it. The hiking here is very different than say hiking Palo Duro. It was completely uphill and included a lot of climbing. The view at the top was breathtaking, making the 10-mile hike 100% worth it. If I ever move back to D.C. or anywhere near Virginia (which I hopefully will at some point), I’d definitely do the hike again.
Washington D.C. was full of unforgettable experiences and I fully intend to come back. Being constantly surrounded by so much history, knowledge, and being able to see our legislative process in full swing is something I’ll never forget. #summersixteen well spent in Washington, D.C.