With everything wrapping up, I wanted to blog about what a great opportunity it has been to have this internship in Washington, D.C. I'd like to frame it in lessons I've learned:
1. Always bring your sense of adventure. I'm usually somebody who likes plans, but I've realized this trip that life is more fun if you leave yourself open to new and unexpected surprises. This trip was full of spontaneous decisions--a trip to Georgetown Cupcake, site of TLC's DC Cupcakes T.V. show; a late-night dinner at a pizza place in Chinatown that we never wanted to leave; watching the Seahawks game in a random sports bar which just happened to be full of a ton of "12s"; a front-row ticket to The National Shakespeare Theater's The Tempest in the show's last weekend. Each adventure was so exciting, and it showed me how possible it is to have fun wherever you are, as long as you are open to the possibility of it.
2. Office culture makes a huge difference. When I first entered the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, I was actually really nervous. I've heard all my life that office jobs are boring and repetitive, and I figured that one with a big name like the Smithsonian would be overrun with rules and red tape. But the moment Hannah and I walked into the office, we realized that this wouldn't be the case. Everyone was happy to see us, made a point of introducing themselves to us, and welcomed us as members of their community, even though we were only there for three weeks. Going to the office was really fun every day, because there was so much energy and everyone was really positive about being there. I know that, if possible in the future, I will want to look for jobs with a similar friendly office culture.
3. Whitworth has a lot of great alumni connections. We were so lucky to have the opportunity to meet (collectively) seven amazing members of the Whitworth community while in D.C.! Each one of these Whitworthians was friendly, enthusiastic, and successful. It was so wonderful to feel like a part of a community beyond the Pinecone Curtain, and it was inspiring to see how well Whitworth grads are doing in the real world.
4. Passion is everything. For my project for the Smithsonian, I was asked to focus on a narrow topic of my choosing. I picked mixed race identity, something that has always been really important to me. Because I was so into the topic, each task was exhilarating and fascinating--even writing emails and typing transcripts. There are a lot of ways to find what makes you passionate, but once you find it, even work can be exciting. I know that I will be thinking about this when I start searching for real jobs in just two short semesters.
My time in D.C. taught me a lot, and I know that I will use these lessons as I continue on in the workforce and in life. I am so grateful for this opportunity, and I am excited to see where it will lead me in the future.
