Politics

Inside with an Intern

My name is Keith Patrick. I am an Agriculture Education graduate student at Texas Tech University and I have served as an intern for Congressman Mike Conaway since August. I?ve lived all over Texas and have traveled our country fairly extensively and even left its shores on occasion; and I can safely say that there is no place else like Washington, D.C. Yes I?m a little older and more experienced than many interns, but I have experienced this city for the first time like everyone else, with utter awe and amazement. I have admittedly choked up on a nighttime visit to the Lincoln Memorial, been awestruck by my first look at the Capitol and marveled during my first walk of the National Mall. I?ve made the rounds of the museums and seen the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, pieces of the World Trade Center, Audie Murphy?s uniform, Lincoln?s Hat, John Glenn?s spacesuit, and Teddy Roosevelt?s chaps…all a 10 minute walk from my temporary home. I was there to see Senator Ted Kennedy?s funeral procession stop at the steps of the Senate for prayer. I have met Senators and Congressmen and women, and chitchatted with them over drinks and bbq. I?ve been inside the White House and walked its gardens. I?ve attended hearings and receptions with cabinet members and generals, and moved aside for the President?s motorcade to speed by. I even met Buzz Aldrin. But I have gained more than lifelong memories and great facebook pictures here. The things I?ve done in, around, and for the office have been where the real rewards were found.
The opportunities afforded to us as interns are simply astounding. Some interns are barely out of high school when they leave their homes all over the world and are given the opportunity to work in the halls where world news is made on a daily basis. I am not only grateful for my time here but feel truly blessed. The people that necessarily work long hours, for notably little pay, to assist the Congressman as he represents the people of the 11th District of Texas are all truly exceptional. I came here with a degree, work experience and a formidable resume and have found myself learning new things everyday about how this town, and this country, work. I?ve seen drafts of my writing bleed with corrections like never before. But survived with little more than a bruised ego and a new understanding of the importance of how things are said. I?ve had the pleasure to speak with many people in the 11th District and their voices in phones calls and letters are a refreshing little piece of home up here in a wildly different world.
I look forward to the rest of my time here. I have no idea what it will hold, which is an exciting and terrifying feeling to experience. Anyone with the chance to take a season out of their life to experience this will find it is time well spent. If I may offer some advice, come prepared to be humbled, prepared to be amazed, prepared to learn, and prepared to shed preconceptions for first-hand experience of how America works. Keith Patrick- Intern for Rep. Mike Conaway’s Washington DC office

Full post as published by Mike Conaway's Blog on December 08, 2009 (boomark / email).