The idea of a career in politics scared me. After all, isn’t politics just a storm of strong partisan opinions fueled by inevitable controversy and inescapable contention? That certainly wasn’t what I wanted out of public service. I wanted to learn how to work with others to make a difference in the world.
Despite my worries, there was something about politics that resonated with me. So I started small. I completed my first internship in a corner cubicle in the basement of a city office building in my hometown of Ammon, Idaho. The stakes were low but the experience was enlightening. My supervisor allowed me to choose my own responsibilities and engage on projects that piqued my interest.
Guided by my supervisor–who helped me navigate this new-to-me political world, – I worked closely with city officials to improve the community. Along the way, my supervisor became a valued friend and mentor; I still get his family’s Christmas cards.
The relationship I built with my supervisor at that internship was crucial in helping me secure an intern position in the House of Representatives the following semester. It felt like a giant leap that I couldn’t have made without his support.
The idea of moving out to Washington, DC as a sophomore felt daunting. Although I was adaptable and eager to learn, I didn’t feel adequately prepared. I had yet to take any political science courses, I had just gotten back from my mission. I wasn’t up-to-date on political news. And, I didn’t know where I would be living or who I would be working with. I felt grossly underqualified.
But still, I itched for a new growing experience. So I applied.
The first people I met in DC were my roommates, two students with whom I had little in common. One, a political science major, was completing her senior year at Howard University. The other already had significant experience working in politics and advocacy movements.
I was intimidated.
I worried about exposing my inexperience in front of them. Despite my fears, however, we started building connections. We explored the city together on the weekends, ate dinner together almost every night, and supported each other in our work and school endeavors.
Life in the city with people I grew to love wasn’t as daunting as I imagined. I even went on to live and work with one of my fellow interns the following summer on a senatorial campaign in Arizona.
That first Monday in my congressional office, I went through round two of intimidation. I found myself surrounded by interns with impressive resumes and extensive experience.
I knew I had the soft skills necessary to get along with anybody I worked with. But, I still felt underprepared to work in Congress. It was imposter syndrome all over again, reframed to this new context. I worried that I simply didn’t have the knowledge, experience, or relationships my counterparts possessed.
One day, not long after I started, I found I was the only intern in the office. While laboring away alone, my supervisor came over and invited me to lunch. I didn’t have much energy and I didn’t know if I could muster the motivation to chat over an entire lunch period.
But, I remembered the advice that my brother gave me before leaving: “Never say no to an opportunity.”
It seemed like a small opportunity, but with only 10 weeks in the city, even the small chances felt important.
We spent the first 30 minutes just chatting. I told her about my experience at BYU and she told me about her experience at The George Washington University. She talked to me about campaigning, cooking, and the best food in the city.
That short discussion over lunch was the beginning of a close relationship that made the rest of my work experience in Congress much more pleasant. Following our conversation, my supervisor regularly sent me scholarship and job announcements. I was thrilled to find that she truly wanted to help me succeed.
I came to learn that progression in political careers comes from building relationships; something not nearly as scary as I had previously anticipated.
Relationships proved to be the foundation of my time and success in Washington, DC. Bills won’t pass without collaboration on both sides of the aisle. Candidates are not elected without hundreds of volunteers knocking doors. And for me, political experience doesn’t come without building a network of friends in the city; something that changed the entire course of my time there.
As a people person, I wasn’t intimidated by the prospect of making friends! If my internship taught me one thing however, it was that focusing on building connections in political work is just as important as developing the hard skills the job requires.
I quickly learned how to use managerial software, send out mass communication to constituents, and set up a meeting with other Hill workers. More importantly though, I learned to build a network of friends who are willing to flag my application or introduce me to colleagues, along with a strong passion for the work that I am doing.
Each new job that I have had since still comes with fears and risks. But, each has offered connections and helped me deepen my love for political work, regardless of any uneasiness involved.
I have made so many relationships that will always be a part of me. I learned that the people in my field genuinely want to help me succeed. And, while my future is still uncertain, I have found confidence where my fears once lay.
Written by Evynn B, Congressional Intern 2022