Taking the Plunge

Tuesday I began work at KSCW, Inc., the governmental relations firm that I’ll be spending the next few months with. I now sit on K Street, the boogeyman of the national media and politicians alike as they rail against “special interests.”

I’ve only been at KSCW for two days, but I’m already starting to be skeptical of the conventional image presented of lobbying. Almost every group you can think of needs a governmental relations firm. Whether you’re a credit union president, a farmer, a doctor, a business owner or an artist…you still have needs and dreams that need to be articulated on Capitol Hill. Lobbyists enable that.

A bit of advice for prospective Washington Center applicants, students or interns: prepare yourself and know what you’re getting into. Don’t worry; I’m not saying that because I feel overwhelmed. That will come later, I am sure and these blog posts will take on a hysterical note. No, I’m saying that because of some feedback I heard from other interns yesterday. No names mentioned.

I was talking to several other interns at the Washington Center after work hours yesterday. We met in the hallway and they were completely exhausted. They were used to a normal weekday involving a few classes, with long breaks in between for lunch, snacks, dinner, naps and social time.

Most internships here are great simulations of real work environments. That means a 9-5ish day. You’ll have your night class once a week after that, which can add up to a long day. So just remember that and plan accordingly.

I will confess it is thrilling to be part of the working environment of DC and not be here as just a tourist, or a kid on a conference for a week. Sure, I’m still only an intern but I have keys that actually open real doors around here. AND I have one of those fancy ID holders on the retracting string that you attach to your belt. AND I wear a suit almost every day. AND I’m working on my Metro skillz so that I can keep my balance without holding onto a bar. So…watch out…you few tourists who might be around. I am no longer one of you.

One of the happy transitions from rural to urban life for me is the convenience of living in an urbanized environment. Instead of driving an hour to get food from somewhere, I literally can walk out of the building, go a block in any direction and have a few choices for lunch or dinner. I do have a mental number related to weekly food budget in my head, and I try and keep all on-the-go food purchases under that.

An aspect of starting an internship or choosing an internship that many students might overlook is the environment that can be created depending on your proximity to other interns. For instance, there are five regular, TWC full-timers at KSCW, including me. In addition, there is another part-time intern and a fellow who works closely with the interns.

For some, this arrangement might seem to lessen your chances for one-on-one time with your boss, or lessen your chances of being the star of the show. But I’ve found having other interns enhances the situation. It allows for collaboration on some levels and greater flexibility in working/socializing and general office interactions. Whether you like that idea or not, it’s a good thing to look for when talking to agencies and making that big choice.

I’ve included some pictures from work and orientation, so you can get some visuals. One shows my workspace, which is spacious and comfortable by intern standards. Another shows two of my roommates practicing their networking skills at the TWC orientation.