West to intern in D.C. over the summer

By Marisa Ellis
Staff Writer

When one thinks of United States congressmen, the first thought that comes to mind is not a high school student. But junior Joe West is breaking age boundaries by interning in Washington, D.C. this summer.

This summer, West will work in Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi’s internship program, which offers students a unique opportunity to learn about the functions of the U.S. House of Representatives as well as daily operations of a Congressional office. West submitted a resume and transcript to apply for the internship.

“I applied for this internship because I am very interested in national politics,” West said. “I found out about this particular internship through my cousin, who did it previously.”

Internships are given to both collegiate and high school students to teach them more about what the working world entails. Although West is required to live in Washington, D.C., he will not be receiving any payment for his services. He will stay in minor intern housing run by the Washington Intern Student Housing organization. His incentives are driven by intellectual and personal interest.

“I am here for the valuable experience, not to be paid,” West said. “I would much rather pursue something that I am passionate about than get a paid internship that I do not enjoy.”

According to West, he will use teamwork and leadership skills throughout the summer as he will work with fellow student interns and Congressional staff members on a variety of projects and tasks.

“I think a lot of the skills I am going to learn this summer will benefit me in school,” West said. “It will make me more responsible when doing my own projects and school work.”

During this seven-week internship, West will have responsibilities such as attending Congressional hearings. He will also be responsible for managing a variety of projects and conducting legislative research.

“By doing this internship, I might be able to see what I would like to do when I am older,” West said. “I hope that this opportunity will be an eye-opening experience for me.”