Being quite the political junkie, I was eager to attend the “OSU to D.C.” panel hosted by the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, held in Page Hall on Monday, September 17th. Among the panel were three Buckeye alumni who all offered insight on their own careers in Washington. All three panelists were also involved in Ohio State’s Washington Academic Internship Program (WAIP) and seized the opportunity to work as interns in D.C. for a semester while gaining course credit. Although the speakers’ experiences in Washington centered primarily around domestic politics (Office of Michelle Obama, Environmental Protection Agency, Capitol Hill internship), the WAIP program is extremely versatile and allows Ohio State students to intern in a variety of different fields, including those concerning foreign affairs. However, even a Capitol Hill intern could be working in offices or committees that involve foreign policy.

In terms of the advice the panelists shared, it definitely inspired me to question my own career goals after I graduate from Ohio State. I have always been interested in attending law school, but I am increasingly aware that there are a plethora of riveting jobs fit to my interests in D.C. where a law degree is not necessarily required. The speakers also commented about the ever-changing nature of their jobs, which put me at ease to know that there is a great chance that I can experiment in a lot of different fields. Aside from my future career, I am definitely eager to research more about my own options regarding the WAIP program after hearing about the panelists’ own experiences. Although I am deterred by the financial aspect of the program, I am highly interested in working in D.C. to understand more about my own interests and to tailor my resume to future employers. Having the ability to work on Capitol Hill or in another office or organization in Washington would provide me with a vast network of connections who could potentially offer me future employment or help me to make connections with other people.

As a Political Science and Public Affairs Journalism major, several of my classes have introduced themes that were discussed at the “OSU to D.C.” panel. One in particular that stood out to me was the concept of bipartisanship and the importance of being able to cooperate with those who have vastly different opinions than your own. Without a sense of civility between you and your colleagues, you will inevitably create more tension and potentially drive the other party away to a greater extent. The panelists spoke to the fact that everyone working in D.C. has a love for America and is working in some way or another to improve it. If I had the chance, I wish I could have asked the speakers how the WAIP program made them more appealing to employers and how it set them aside from other candidates. After hearing about this incredible Ohio State-run opportunity, I look forward to potentially working in Washington, D.C. after I graduate.