My Favorite Moment - By Intern Clay Marsh

Clay Marsh is a senior majoring in Political Science. He is currently interning in D.C. for Senator Harry Reid.  He is the Mountain West Regional Director of College Democrats of America and he works in the USU Student Sustainability Office. Clay is also on the USU Government Relations Council and is a staff writer for the USU Statesman.

My Favorite Moment
By: Clay Marsh

My favorite moment of my internship so far has to be when Pope Francis came to give a speech to a joint session of Congress. I was able to stand outside on the west lawn of the capitol when His Holiness came out to bless the crowd after his speech. I know that it isn’t common to have a pope visit happen during an internship but it was one of those rare moments where the educational side and the occupational side of my internship collided to create a really special moment.

I can remember feeling as if I didn’t want to attend the event knowing that it was going to be a hassle trying to fight the crowds. I have always been the type of person to give up on trying to attend fun things when I know that it would require standing in lines or being surrounded by tons of people at the same time. It took some time but I finally realized that if I didn’t fight that inclination and do what I could to see the pope I would beat myself up for missing that chance for a very long time.

I loved listening to Pope Francis explain the need for greater cooperation and a common sense approach to immigration. His message of compassion for others deeply resonated with me and is something that I won't soon forget. Hearing Pope Francis commit himself to working with world leaders to solve the issues of our times is what really impressed me the most about him. I’ll also remember how his message resonated with liberals and conservatives and created an environment where sides could come together to govern effectively.

Being at the event and getting to see the Pope bless the large crowd after his speech is what helped me realize the incredible amount of diverse individuals that you're surrounded by in Washington. Where other opportunities to network and meet people usually involves meeting people from very similar backgrounds, in DC you meet and get to know people from all different walks of life that gives you interpersonal skills that are almost exclusive to the area.

Getting to be here for that occasion and the many other times where I had to chance to meet so many incredible and different people has been the motivation behind me trying to find a job so that I’m allowed to stay in this environment and hopefully build a happy and effective career in policy.

Being a student that was close to finishing I thought I wouldn’t do an internship in DC. But after some prodding from close friends within the IOGP I am incredibly grateful for not only the chance to see the Pope but the chance to be here and learn in-depth how the federal government works. With everything I’ve learned here I feel that my career opportunities have grown exponentially and the things that I’ve learned became more than just another class on politics but a first-hand, incredible chance to be a part of the process.

D.C. Intern Orientation

Deciding to do an internship can be overwhelming, especially when it involves moving across the country. But don't let that stop you from taking the opportunity of a lifetime.

Before each group of interns heads out to take on D.C., the IOGP holds an intern orientation to give them all the information they are going to need to be successful during their time out there. 

We have an excellent team to help you get all your questions answered and to give you their advice, including:

- Jashon Bishop and Madison Maners, two previous D.C. interns 

- Brandee Spackman, our intern and housing coordinator 

- Damon Cann, our co-director 

-Neil Abercrombie, our director 

-Jeannie Johnson, a professor from the political science department 

Among the topics covered during the orientation are:

-Professionalism

-Your role as an intern

-Life in D.C.

-How to use the Washington D.C. metro

-Safety

-How to get up to 12 credits for your internship

-Housing information

And any other questions the group might have.

The IOGP wants you to be successful during your internship, and to represent yourself and Utah State University well. Our office is always accessible during your time in D.C., ready to help you with whatever we can.

This is our group of spring 2016 D.C. interns.

 From left to right: Ethan Swenson, Camille Mindrum, Jessica Thompson, Anna Meppen, Hailee Housley, Christian Lippert (Lisa Chidester and Lily Wachtor not pictured)

Ethan: History Major, Interning for Senator Hatch

Camille: Political Science Major, Interning for Senator Hatch

Jessica: History Major, Interning for Congressman Simpson

Anna: Political Science Major, Interning for the State Department

Hailee: Art History Major, Interning for Senator Lee

Christian: Global Communications Major, Interning for Congressman Bishop, 

Lisa: Marketing Major, Interning for Tim Stewart

Lily: Political Science Major, Interning for the Financial Services Roundtable

All of our new interns seem excited for the chance to get involved in government.

Christian Lippert told us why he decided to do an internship.

"I expect that this internship will open my eyes to how government functions, the real detail of it. I have a broad understanding of what a congressman does, but I want to see the specifics of it, like how they fill their every day, the kind of issues the deal with and how constituents have a voice. I look forward to finding all that out and experiencing that first hand. In general, it will provide me with a lot of positive experiences as far as meeting people and learning how the United States government works, as well as give me some professional background experience."

Check back for intern spotlights throughout the spring semester for updates on their experiences in D.C.!

Intern Spotlight: Austin Ashcraft

Meet Austin Ashcraft.

• Major: Political Science
• Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
• Favorite Ccereal: Cinnamon Life
• Last Movie He Watched: Rudy
• Intern For: Congressman Rob Bishop

IOGP: What has been the highlight of your internship?

AA: There have been a lot of incredible things that I have been able to see and do out here. One of my favorites was being able to watch the floor vote that confirmed Paul Ryan as Speaker of the House. It was great to be there and see the gavel pass from one speaker to another. It was a powerful experience.

                                             Arlington National Cemetery

IOGP: What is it like working for Congressman Bishop? Have you been able to interact with him?

AA: I have loved working for Congressman Bishop. He has a great staff that has really made me feel like I was not just an intern, but an important part of the staff. That has really been a bright spot of my internship. They are great people who work hard and enjoy what they do. That attitude really helps. Congressman Bishop is great as well. He has a relatively small staff, and we get to see and interact with him quite regularly.

IOGP: What are your plans post-internship?

AA: I plan on trying to get involved in the non-profit sector. It is something that has always interested me, and seeing the interaction between non-profit organizations and government has made me want to learn more. 

IOGP: Which classes really prepared you for this internship?

AA: Strange as it might sound, one class that has really helped me is National Security Policy, taught by Jeannie Johnson. I am not dealing with national security out here, but in that class we learned how to analyze a certain group or culture, and identify elements of their culture that help us understand the best way to work with them. Everyone is different, and looking for the best way to work with certain groups has helped me understand better the processes that are involved in politics.

                                           The Ferris Wheel at the National Harbor

IOGP: What do you like most about DC?

AA: Washington DC has so much to offer. Whatever you like to do, odds are you can do it out here. The metro system is really nice for getting where you want to go. If you want to get super involved politically, you can do that. If you want to learn about history, there is so much to see here, from monuments to free museums and everything in between. If you want to discover different cultures, you are just a metro stop away. If you want to spend time outdoors, you are very close to some beautiful areas. If you like sports, DC has professional teams for all five major sports. Whatever you want to do, you can find it here.

                                 Shaking Abraham Lincoln's hand at a Washington Nationals game

IOGP: Any recommended sights to see in DC?

AA: The National Mall is great, with all the monuments. It is really fun to see them at night when they are all lit up. There are free walking tours that are great. You meet a guide at a specific spot, and walk around with them talking and telling stories. The Smithsonian Museums (all 19 of them) are all really cool and they are free! Arlington National Cemetery is a must-see. The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is very powerful. If you are able to get out to Gettysburg (about 2 hours away), I would also suggest seeing that. They have a great museum there, and you can walk around the battlefields. It is a very profound experience. Make sure you see the movie at the museum. It is a couple dollars more, but it is completely worth it. There is so much to see and do out here. I have been here almost three months and feel like I have just barely scratched the surface!

                                                                     White House Gardens

IOGP: What advice would you give to current students thinking of doing a political internship?

AA: Do it. An internship is not something I really even considered doing until Jashon came and asked me about it, but it is a decision that I definitely do not regret. The experience has taught me a lot about the political process, about what I want from the future and about myself in general. It has been a great opportunity.