Published August 27, 2015
University of Louisiana at Monroe student Lauren Lewis is not a political science
major, but she found that she didn’t need to be to have a successful summer in Washington
D.C. After a once in a lifetime opportunity to work for Congressman Ralph Abraham,
Lewis returned to Monroe with perspective and a new appreciation for government.
“Spending my summer in D.C. was the best decision I could have made,” she said. “I’m
so grateful to have had the opportunity to work on Capitol Hill for Congressman Ralph
Abraham and experience D.C life. The staff was so welcoming and helpful, and I couldn’t
have asked for a better boss! The days were long, but filled with fun and exciting
events. I wouldn’t trade this summer for anything!”
For many students, an internship is an opportunity to take the next steps toward a
career. For Lewis, it was more much more than that.
“For a lot of students, an internship in D.C. is seen only as a resume builder. You
answer the phones and sort the mail and, in the end, get a letter of recommendation
with a congressional stamp on it,” she said. “For me, it was more than that. Going
to D.C., I didn’t have much insight into politics. I had the perfect classroom to
really dig in and experience the everyday problems our nation faces. I’m so thankful
that I was given tasks where I did actual policy work. My office gave me every opportunity
to learn.”
As a finance major, Lewis knew going in that she may not fit in to the D.C. interns
“crowd,” but the lack of a political science background helped her discover more of
her passion to become a public servant.
She said, “I didn’t think much of my coursework would transfer over to politics, but
one of the legislative assistants worked on financial services issues so I was able
to work under him and use some of what I had learned from my business classes. I also
took an intro political science class, which was very helpful because we studied a
lot of current events. While having a political background is helpful, no specific
major is needed when working on the hill. There are such a wide array of issues, so
any major can be of help when working on the hill.”
Her efforts to learn and become more involved with the legislative process did not
go unnoticed.
“Lauren contributed a great deal to our congressional staff while she served as one
of our interns this summer,” said Abraham. “She came to D.C. well prepared to tackle
the rigorous pace of the daily schedule. My staff and I were pleased with her work
ethic and willingness to learn. I would encourage students at ULM who are interested
in an internship with our office to apply next year.”
While Lewis said she learned various skills during her time under Abraham including
federal government operations, office skills, and congressional office procedures,
she said what she learned about herself was just as valuable.
“I’ve discovered I’m much more of a people person than I ever thought before,” she
said. “Answering the phones and talking with the different constituents was one of
my favorite tasks because it allowed me to explain how Congressman Abraham is serving
them in Washington and to also, get insight on what the people were feeling back at
home. I also learned how important making connections can be. I met so many different
people who I wanted to stay connected with, so I would take their business cards and
be sure to send a follow up email after each event.”
The riches of her internship didn’t end there. On June 25, Lewis and her colleagues
made their way to the Supreme Court to witness that day’s activities. What she didn’t
expect was to be part of an historic decision.
“My favorite moment was being in the courtroom when the Affordable Care Act ruling
was given. I asked my office if I could have the morning off because my roommates
and I wanted to test our luck at the Supreme Court. We had no idea what they would
rule on that day so we were surprised when they announced the Affordable Care Act.
It was the coolest moment to be one of the first to hear the ruling and then being
able to walk out of the Supreme Court and see the celebrations going on outside. Being
able to say I witnessed history is something not many people can say.”
In the end, Lewis took away more than she bargained for, and learned that her role
in society can be as impactful and significant as she desires.
“While I haven’t completely decided on what I plan to do career wise, I do hope to
stay involved in politics. This life is so interesting and I feel it is my job as
a citizen to stay involved and informed in the decisions that are going on in Washington.
I’ve now been in the trenches of public policy, so to completely remove myself from
that wouldn’t be right. I’ve gained valuable information and want to continue to learn
and stay involved in governmental issues.”
ULM offers students a variety of opportunities for internships through its Office
of Career Connections. Staff members assist students with internship placement, career
options, resume writing, and job searches.
