Partnering with community for educational opportunity across AL-7.

As a political science graduate, an internship in Washington, D.C. is one of the most desired opportunities a student can possess. The opportunity provided by the 7th Project Association has changed my outlook on life as well as the world around me. The experience itself has led to many career options within my field. Throughout college I often wondered what was my purpose and why did I choose to attend Troy University. As a first generation college student and the daughter of a single parent, I faced many challenges, but I looked to women like Congresswoman Sewell for motivation and morale. I understood that my goals were possible even after many failures. A few weeks before graduation, I felt like everything was a total disaster. I did not have any major future plans, I wrecked my only functioning vehicle, and I was about to become a college graduate. Once I received the phone call confirming my selection as a participant of the Washington, D.C. internship position, I was delighted. Unfortunately, the joy was short lived. I did not have any idea how would I travel to D.C., where would I live, and how would I provide for myself. The situation turned gloomy in a matter of moments. To my surprise, the 7th Project Association held the golden ticket to a great opportunity.

I enjoyed being able to see the daily office operations of my member of Congress. We often do not see the hard work that goes into assisting a member of Congress and helping to meet constituents’ needs. Being able to help my Congresswoman serve her constituents and make a difference was my favorite part of the job.

Congresswoman Sewell is very passionate about interns, and always made sure that we had an active role in every one of her staff’s biggest projects. She also graciously allowed us to sit in on several meetings where we were exposed to some very influential people while in D.C. Because of this, I learned so much about how various industries work with lawmakers to influence policy.

If there was any advice I could leave for future interns, it would be to be open-minded and learn everything that you can. You will get a firsthand look at politics, but the true lesson is about leadership. Take initiative and don’t be afraid to jump in to offer a hand to the Congresswoman and staff.

After interning with Congresswoman Terri Sewell the previous summer in her Montgomery office, I thought I would have an idea about what to expect when going to intern in her D.C. office. However, I was pleasantly surprised that the district and Washington offices cover vastly different but interconnected aspects of the legislative process. Some days, we would be helping the legislative staff with research, while on other days we were running around the Capitol with staff and the Congresswoman herself. My favorite part was our proximity to the Capitol and our ability to gain access to almost the entire building with our intern badges. Just being around members of Congress each and every day was such an unparalleled experience. Overall, my time with Congresswoman Terri Sewell was thrilling and very insightful. It was a journey that offered me a look into my future career goals and how to achieve those goals.

The highlight of my time in Washington D.C. was seeing the daily operations of Capitol Hill, assisting in creating legislation on behalf of constituents, and interacting with some of the brightest minds that our country has to offer.

The best part about my 7th Project internship in Congresswoman Sewell’s Office was the freedom we had to discover all that D.C. has to offer. We were able to attend important hearings and briefings on the hill, and we had the opportunity to tour and explore the Capitol, the House, and the Senate.