Blog 10: Goodbyes and new beginnings

Well, The Washington Center program is over. These 10 week programs can be pretty intense. I guess it’s like leaving summer camp. At least if I ever need a place to stay in Florida, Louisiana, or Canada I know that I have somewhere to go. Same goes for many of the people I became close with if they somehow find themselves in Washington D.C. That is one of the benefits of something like this. Not just networking within your internship but also with people all over the country.

There is so much that this experience has brought me. If I had to I would do it over again in a heartbeat. Programs such as The Washington Center open a lot of doors. It is important for you to take the responsibility of walking through them. There is only so much others can do for you, it is up to you to create your own success. That is probably the most important thing I have learned during my time here. I am glad that I have had the opportunity to share my experience with all of you Washington Center hopefuls and I hope this blog has entertained as well as encouraged you.

Week 9: Real success is finding your life's work in the work that you love.

This has been quiet a week. My roommate Lauren moved out and went back to her school (Elon University) to get ready for the fall semester. I don’t like having the entire apartment to myself with an empty room across the hall; it just doesn’t feel right without my roommate. I have gotten used to our late night chats about our busy Washington Center days. I almost don’t know what to do without Lauren. It is so crazy to think how the summer is just about over. I myself will be embarking on a new chapter in my life and starting my Master’s degree program. I feel after this experience I am more prepared for the demands, time management, and maturity it is going to take to be successful.

I am currently getting my Washington Center portfolio together. Now that I see my work collectively I must say I am rather proud. It’s turning out to be pretty darn good. When I first came down here I thought that I would spend my days working at my internship and then my nights out on the town in Washington D.C. without a care in the world. Well that illusion was soon crushed. I’ll be frank… I was a little shocked when I first saw the syllabus. I was thinking in my head and probably actually said out loud “What are these Washington Center guys thinking?! They have got to be crazy!” It actually was not that bad though. Through it all I have definitely learned a lot more this summer than if I hadn’t put all this effort in. This Washington Center adventure certainly has not been all work. I have had a reasonable amount of time to do the tourist thing and even enjoy myself a little on the weekends.

This week at my internship we had Marshall Fest. It was an all-day BBQ with various sport challenges. They take the sports competitions pretty seriously and wining at volleyball is very important for the NESA Center… but we lost again this year! It was great to spend the day outdoors with the faculty and get to know them away from the cubicle. Then some of the staff took us out for “Intern-palooza”. I can’t think of a better way to end this internship then a day of sharing stories and creating new ones with the NESA Center staff. I will always have positive memories of my internship and of the NESA Center.

The NESA staff and inters trying there best at volleyball during Marshall Fest.

The NESA interns and Staff celebrating “Intern-palooza!"

I have had a few people contact me via Facebook and email. Feel free to keep the messages coming and don’t be afraid to ask deep questions about my experience. After all, I am an open book since I did decide to write about my experiences here on a public blog.