My STEP signature project was an internship in Washington D.C. for the fall 2023 semester. I participated in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs’ Washington Academic Internship Program (WAIP). I lived in D.C., worked full time, and took 12 credit hours. My internship in D.C. was at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in their National Political Advocacy Department’s (NPAD) Organizing Division. I worked at the ACLU for 36 hours a week for 10 weeks, attended class on Wednesdays and Fridays, and participated in networking events and study tours to learn more about working and living in D.C.

My time in D.C. was spent continuously growing – personally and professionally. For one, this semester was the first time I’ve ever lived outside of Columbus, Ohio. It was important to me to participate in this program because I wanted to see if I could succeed in new places. I was nervous at the start of the program, but quickly took to life in the city. I made friends in the professional and personal sense, which was something I was worried I’d be unable to do. Now I have a community of professionals and people my age that are ready to welcome me back to the nation’s capital should I choose to return.

I also grew a lot as a professional. All of my internships have been, in some sense, rapid-response work, but that aspect was crucial when I was working for the ACLU. I also expanded my issue portfolio during my time there – many of my other internships focused on one area, such as women’s rights or labor, but the ACLU fights for many causes. I got to work on projects that supported some of their initiatives. Lastly, I got to build my skills as an organizer working at the national level. Before this, I’d never worked for at the national level of an organization. Additionally, all my organizing experience was done specifically for labor purposes and at a hyper-local level. This opportunity allowed me to experience what working nationally was like and gave increased my exposure to the organizing field.

One part of WAIP was that every Wednesday we attended panels. These had speakers who worked in certain public service areas. We got to ask them questions and hear their honest opinions on what life and work is like. Two of these were very impactful for me. One was the nonprofit panel. All of the speakers were employees at various nonprofits within a multitude of roles. What I took away from that was the passion they had for their work. Nonprofit work can be difficult and demanding, but everyone at the table was glad to be doing what they were doing. They also had personal stories that they shared to demonstrate what drew them to their work. The other panel was the federal government panel. These speakers were employees at various federal government agencies and discussed their experiences. I had two main takeaways from this panel. The first was that I can do more jobs than I realized. Before, I had been solely focused on government work as a staffer or working for an advocacy nonprofit. This showed me another avenue I can pursue. Additionally, this panel reminded me of other important aspects of work that I need to consider for post-grad – things like benefits, job security, etc.

My professional development in WAIP was scaffolded with my experiences at the ACLU. Before this, my organizing experience was hyper-local and organic. I helped with a union campaign in the campus area which served as my initial exposure to organizing. I enjoyed the work so much that I wanted to continue – this is why I applied to the ACLU. During my time there, I got to sharpen my skills as an organizer. One of the ways I did that was by gaining technical expertise. The ACLU uses digital tools such as ActionKit and GetThru, both of which I had no experience in. My internship exposed me to both softwares. This will give me a competitive advantage when entering the job market. The ACLU also taught me about organizing for multiple causes and how to develop strategy. My previous organizing experience was fast and reactive, but during my internship I had opportunities to learn about planning for the whole campaign and seeing the whole picture from the beginning.

Living in D.C. also exposed me to everything the nation’s capital has to offer. I got to go to many events that introduced me to many people – a student networking event introduced me to friends from other universities and ACLU intern events introduced me to other people going through the program alongside me. Outside of meeting people, I got to see many sights in D.C. I went on the White House Garden Tour, met a congressman, toured the Capitol, saw the National Aquarium, saw the campuses of Georgetown and George Washington University, toured the National Cathedral, saw the Library of Congress, toured the Supreme Court, and saw an opera at the Kennedy Center. All of these experiences exposed me to different parts of history, government, and culture. I grew personally because of my exposure to this and how many other people I met.

This project helped solidify that I’m exactly where I am supposed to be. A common struggle in college is figuring out what the next step is for you after you graduate. Sometimes, that requires a major change, or a shift in ideas for professional opportunities. My time in D.C. showed me that I’m on the right path. It also solidified for me that I can live outside of Columbus and not just survive but thrive. I loved my time in D.C. and getting to take advantage of all the city had to offer. It helped me prepare to come back after graduation and start a rewarding career in public service.