Entering the fourth week of my internship, I couldn’t have imagined this project being as formative, impactful, and interesting as it has turned out to be. From the very first day, I’ve been completely immersed in an incredibly eventful office environment- a surprisingly unusual occurrence for a Congressman. From picking up hundreds of constituent calls, to attending committee hearings, to giving tours of the U.S Capitol to witnesses, I’ve never felt more unsure of what I was doing in my entire life. This is my first experience truly feeling like the dumbest person in the room, blindly walking along the mysterious trail of American politics. Yet each day I’ve worked here I’ve felt more and more sure of what I was doing. In that regard, I’ve already accomplished more than I could’ve imagined. I have a greater understanding of how the House of Representatives works, how politicians interact with their constituents, how bills are created, how bills are debated, why hearings are important, and the type of people who go into this line of work. Working on Capitol Hill is like unveiling a curtain and witnessing our political system in its entirety. Instead of looking through a window tinted by the biases of MSNBC or Fox News, I create my own candid reactions to events happening, how they happen, and their outcomes. Simply examining the construction and layout of the offices will tell you all you need to know: Four office buildings and the U.S Capitol connected by a maze of underground tunnels, subways, and hallways. Yes, there is an entire subway system dedicated to moving politicians and their staff members throughout the buildings. Within these underground systems are hundreds of stores, including Chipotle, Verizon, Bank of America, and more. It is truly an architectural marvel. Going into more detail, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed 3 hearings and briefings that occurred this last week (more information on annotated bibliography). I’ve been able to witness intense debate between Congressman Raskin and hundreds of Republicans, taking thorough and complete notes in an effort to improve my own oral argumentation. I also wrote two 5 page memorandums on gas prices- one of which is listed below this post. Ultimately, I am incredibly grateful and proud of the work I am doing. Below is a memorandum I wrote for my Communications Director: