My first experience on Capitol Hill - interning for my Congressman in the spring of 2005.
As I have said and one could well assume, there are many firsts in my life right now. There are also many lasts. Today is one of the lasts: It is my last day working as a Congressional staffer. It has been five years. I will miss this place dearly.
It took a pretty significant proposal - a marriage proposal, in fact - to get me off this Hill. I have sat up here on my high Hill (figuratively, of course), completely unwilling to leave until a better offer - a MUCH better offer - came my way. Why? Because working here is awesome.
This place has been so good to me. I made a little career for myself in which I was able to mesh my interest in politics with my talent and formal education in communications. I have seen the inner-workings of the legislative process - both glamorous, unglamorous, grueling and rewarding. I have made life long friends. I have loved it.
We used to laugh when my wise and wonderful old roommate Sarah, a lawyer by trade, would say that she loved the law. Well, after five years of working within the legislative branch, I can unequivocally say that I love the legislative process. I love our country, and I love what Capitol Hill stands for.
You may have noticed that you can't just walk into any building in Washington, DC. It's very difficult to get a tour of the White House and if you're even thinking about walking into one of the Administration buildings you might as well turn around inside the lobby because that's about as far as you're going to get.
But when you go to the Capitol - or any of its corresponding House or Senate office buildings - you will notice that they are open to the public. You have to go through a metal detector to get into the office buildings and you must be escorted by staff or on an official tour to get into the Capitol, but these buildings are OPEN. They are open to the public because they are here to serve the public. Your votes determine the lawmakers that reside in those halls, and they are in a very real sense accountable to you.
I like to remind people (especially Ohioans) that I work for THEM. I do not work for President Obama. I do not even work for the government really. (Although I do observe most federal holidays.) I work for the people. It is a privilege to be a citizen of our great nation, and with that privilege comes the responsibility of electing a governing body to represent you. Kind of awesome, right? These are the kinds of rights people die for in other parts of the world.
I have had some incredible opportunities over the last five years, simply by being a Capitol Hill staffer. And my most favorite memories have come from hearing lectures from some of the people I admire and have only dreamed of meeting in person.
Two of the most significant speakers I heard were Ari Fleischer and Dana Perino, both of whom served as press secretary to President Bush (Ari from '01-03 and Dana from '07-09). They both spoke at separate times to a group of Capitol Hill press secretaries of which I belong (belonged?). One thing they both said was that, while they were grateful for the incredible opportunity to serve in Bush's administration, their favorite job was being a Capitol Hill press secretary. They both smiled with such delight recalling their days on the Hill and gave invaluable advice for dealing with reporters and handling the media.
I am not even fully separated from the experience and nostalgia has already set in. I will miss this place. I will miss freely roaming the halls. I will miss working with reporters and drafting statements for Senators and Congressmen and writing things that my boss ends up saying on the Senate or House floor. It is work, but it has been really fun work.
Sorry I just totally geeked out there for a second. But the point is, if you get a chance, come visit DC and meet your Congressman. Find your Congressman on Facebook and Twitter and follow him/her. Check in on them regularly. Know how they vote and decide how you would like them to vote. Go to your local city council and school board and see what kind of decisions they are making in your community. And if you are still in college or know someone in college, encourage them to do an internship in Washington. You/they will never regret it.
Now I'll get down off my Capitol Hill and start the next chapter of my life.
It took a pretty significant proposal - a marriage proposal, in fact - to get me off this Hill. I have sat up here on my high Hill (figuratively, of course), completely unwilling to leave until a better offer - a MUCH better offer - came my way. Why? Because working here is awesome.
This place has been so good to me. I made a little career for myself in which I was able to mesh my interest in politics with my talent and formal education in communications. I have seen the inner-workings of the legislative process - both glamorous, unglamorous, grueling and rewarding. I have made life long friends. I have loved it.
We used to laugh when my wise and wonderful old roommate Sarah, a lawyer by trade, would say that she loved the law. Well, after five years of working within the legislative branch, I can unequivocally say that I love the legislative process. I love our country, and I love what Capitol Hill stands for.
You may have noticed that you can't just walk into any building in Washington, DC. It's very difficult to get a tour of the White House and if you're even thinking about walking into one of the Administration buildings you might as well turn around inside the lobby because that's about as far as you're going to get.
But when you go to the Capitol - or any of its corresponding House or Senate office buildings - you will notice that they are open to the public. You have to go through a metal detector to get into the office buildings and you must be escorted by staff or on an official tour to get into the Capitol, but these buildings are OPEN. They are open to the public because they are here to serve the public. Your votes determine the lawmakers that reside in those halls, and they are in a very real sense accountable to you.
I like to remind people (especially Ohioans) that I work for THEM. I do not work for President Obama. I do not even work for the government really. (Although I do observe most federal holidays.) I work for the people. It is a privilege to be a citizen of our great nation, and with that privilege comes the responsibility of electing a governing body to represent you. Kind of awesome, right? These are the kinds of rights people die for in other parts of the world.
I have had some incredible opportunities over the last five years, simply by being a Capitol Hill staffer. And my most favorite memories have come from hearing lectures from some of the people I admire and have only dreamed of meeting in person.
Two of the most significant speakers I heard were Ari Fleischer and Dana Perino, both of whom served as press secretary to President Bush (Ari from '01-03 and Dana from '07-09). They both spoke at separate times to a group of Capitol Hill press secretaries of which I belong (belonged?). One thing they both said was that, while they were grateful for the incredible opportunity to serve in Bush's administration, their favorite job was being a Capitol Hill press secretary. They both smiled with such delight recalling their days on the Hill and gave invaluable advice for dealing with reporters and handling the media.
I am not even fully separated from the experience and nostalgia has already set in. I will miss this place. I will miss freely roaming the halls. I will miss working with reporters and drafting statements for Senators and Congressmen and writing things that my boss ends up saying on the Senate or House floor. It is work, but it has been really fun work.
Sorry I just totally geeked out there for a second. But the point is, if you get a chance, come visit DC and meet your Congressman. Find your Congressman on Facebook and Twitter and follow him/her. Check in on them regularly. Know how they vote and decide how you would like them to vote. Go to your local city council and school board and see what kind of decisions they are making in your community. And if you are still in college or know someone in college, encourage them to do an internship in Washington. You/they will never regret it.
Now I'll get down off my Capitol Hill and start the next chapter of my life.
4 comments:
Stephanie... you have been an excellent example of what a press secretary should be. I'll miss you on the Hill.
Getting to work on the Hill really is a unique experience - I geeked out reading your post! Best wishes after you turn in your badge...
Kind of sad to leave it behind - but I know what's coming is an even better adventure. Hope you had a wonderful day. xoxo
I agree with all the comments before. You rocked that job and get to start a new adventure (in your favorite city!! :)), and who knows, maybe more politics is in your future, I could see it!
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