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Diana Silva
SPIA: May 2012
Intern at Washington Semester Program
The fall of my junior year at the University of Georgia, I had a life changing experience that deepened my appreciation and interest in international affairs. During this semester, I had the opportunity to intern for Congressman David Scott in Washington, D.C. as well as the prestige of meeting high ranked politicians. During my freshman year, an older colleague of mine that had attended previous years had told me about the Washington Semester Program. Learning about his experiences and the outstanding opportunities he had was just one of my motivations that led me to apply.
I do not have the words to describe this experience. As a congressional intern, I was able to attend high-profile events with the Congressman and his staff, lead Capitol tours and explore Washington, D.C. Of course, this also meant running into other well-known politicians like Nancy Pelosi and John McCain. In the office, I was given the opportunity to assist with general policy matters, attend day-to-day hearings and even handle constituent relations. One of my best weekends in D.C. was when I got invited to attend the Congressional Black Caucus Gala where President Obama and the First Lady spoke. Here, I interacted with some of our nation’s leaders, and even watched President Obama speak five feet away from me -- something I never imagined I would be able to do as an intern! All of these opportunities could not have been possible without the Washington Semester Program. Being an intern in a congressional office allowed me to grow as an individual and expand my knowledge about the inner workings of our democracy. This internship helped me recognize and target my interests within international relations.