On one hand, I am proud of our democratic system that literally plucks fresh-eyed Midwesterners, laid-back West Coast types, preppy East Coasters and take-it-easy Southerners to our nation’s capitol. It really is a melting pot of colors, ideas, backgrounds and personalities that fill the halls of power in Congress, the White House and the Supreme Court.
Call me old-fashioned, “old school,” a traditionalist, or even out of touch, but I am of the school of thought that serving as an intern is not a right, but a fortunate privilege, and that the whole idea of an internship is to immerse yourself in the experience, and it’s pretty much assumed that you’re the lowest person on the totem pole. For a reason. You have little to no experience, this may be your first time in a working, professional environment, and the idea is to learn through observation and hands-on experience. You’re not there to get a free lunch (although that’s an added bonus, since many internships are unpaid), have flex days or demand that you attend certain meetings. The nerve!
But it dawned on me that for some interns, this is the new normal I have a plea to all the teachers, parents and friends of interns who are coming to Washington this summer: Be humble! Put your head down and gratefully accept the work that is given to you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, but be respectful of the people who work at the organization and presumably earned the right to attend the meetings that you’re demanding to attend. In other words, as an intern you have to earn the respect of your employer through hard work, dedication, a sincere interest in the issues your organization is charged with and you must also have the credibility and/or expertise to ask for certain things, and attending meetings as you please or working from home or taking a day off when you feel like it are not among them.
In today’s society, I have noticed that we coddle our young people and choose words that give them a false sense of accomplishment. Yes, there is a first place, and that means something for the same reason there are a second place and a third place. In some cases, we’re not all equal when it comes to the workplace hierarchy, and that’s OK. So parents, teachers, mentors and most important, prospective interns; relax, chill and enjoy the ride up the ladder — slowly. At the end of your career you will realize that gaining experience from the bottom up will be the best work experience of your life.
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