I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you and the McGill Experience Awards founders for their generous donation of the Susan Casey Brown Fund. Your support enabled me to serve as a legislative intern for the U.S. Senate this summer.
Through this internship, I got to experience the legislative process in action and expand on my Political Science coursework in a practical setting. I discovered my enthusiasm for the many roles I got to play in a legislative office. With each research project I completed or memo I wrote, I learned something new and expanded my horizons.
In my role, I performed both legislative and administrative tasks for the office. I especially enjoyed the opportunity to work on National Security, Foreign Affairs, and Defense policy. These issue areas align with my personal interest and were especially relevant to my prior coursework in Comparative Politics and International Relations. One of the highlights of my experience was getting to watch as the Senate voted to approve the $40.1 billion USD aid package to Ukraine. I got to sit in the Senate gallery and watch the majority leader, Senator Chuck Schumer, give a speech prior to the passage of the bill and see the live vote of 86-11. I had seen the Senate floor many times on CSPAN and in the news, but it was surreal to get to watch the proceedings live and in person.
I also had the opportunity to stay late after the workday had ended to watch the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. This was an impactful experience for me because I attended the 2018 March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C. My involvement in this event and my passion for social justice sparked my interest in politics and played a large part in my decision to study Political Science at McGill. With this in mind, and with the tragic mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas taking place as I began my internship, I was beyond grateful to see the legislative process prevail and to see substantive action taken to address the nation’s gun violence epidemic.
Most of all, interning on Capitol Hill allowed me to work in an office and in a city of like-minded, public service-oriented professionals. The support you provided enabled me to afford housing and the cost of living in Washington D.C. With this barrier removed, I was able to focus on my assignments in the office without the added challenge of a long commute or the need to work an additional job to afford housing. As a result, I was able to build on the foundations of my studies at McGill and gain a greater appreciation for working in the civil service. I hope to return to Capitol Hill after I graduate, and this internship has provided me with connections and a better understanding of what a career in public service will entail.
Once again, thank you to the McGill International Experience Awards founders and to Mr. Garvin Brown for making this experience possible.
