X/Y/Z; Now I know my A(bout), D.C.'s

Dear "Every wonderful person who has been reading my blog posts,"

I know putting 3 letters together might be a let down (or cheating), but I promise this is worth reading. I've decided to write you all a letter to sum up my experiences this summer. I hope you enjoy this final post, as I am really going to miss writing this blog!

Spending the past weekend with my mom and sister in the city, my summer in D.C. has finally come to an end.  We spent many hours walking, exploring museums and taking in the sight of the beautiful monuments at moonlight.  From tours to tasty restaurants, I think it's safe to say that Robin and mom had a great time.  It was the perfect way to end my stay in this great city.

Ready for our trolley tour!

Reflecting back on the past two months, I can't help but think what it would have been like without having this blog to record all of my realizations, fun times, and overall memories.  The support I have received from individuals commenting, liking, or texting me about my internship and blog was unreal.  It made it a whole lot easier to be away from home and to be on my own in this new experience.

My favorite monument
(and President)

President Clinton played
the Sax just like me!

My favorite question to be asked was: "What's the next letter going to stand for?" And while I vowed to keep it a secret, it was fun to brainstorm the next post's title with friends from school and family from home.  You all truly made writing this thing worthwhile.

I would also like to thank DePauw University and the Hubbard Center for Student Engagement.  Without DePauw and the grant I received, this entire summer would not have been possible.  I thank my lucky stars every day for being able to attend a school that cares so much about helping me to not only have great experiences, but to be very very successful while pursuing my dreams.

My favorite dish from now on:
Mango Stir-fry

Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier at Arlington

In the end, there's not much else to say than "Thank you all." I would additionally like to ask that if you have ANY additional questions about my time in D.C., or my internship that you do not hesitate to ask me.  Most of the stuff I've learned throughout my life has been because of great mentors and teachers who gave me advice when I stumbled upon something new.  So whether you are an aspiring leader, potential DePauw student, in need of a job, or just want to know how you can get to do what I've done, I look forward to hearing from you.

My favorite super hero movie (with the words of one of my favorite philosophers, Voltaire), says that "With great power comes great responsibility." However, I think this applies to any and all of our experiences in life because we have the great power to embrace them, as well as the great responsibility to share them with others.  No matter the rough times, or the successes, each and every one of us has greatness about us and this greatness is the very thing we must share with the world.

It is my sincerest hope that I have done just that this summer with you.

Rachel 

W is for White House; Green Room Greatness

Walking in after security

One of the perks of being a DOEd Intern is that you get to do cool stuff.  I'm not just talking about the everyday tasks and interactions with ED officials, but also the special tours and places we get to see.  On Friday, I got to go somewhere I have been wanting to go for a long time: the White House! I was so excited to finally see the inside of the place we always see on the news.  I was even more excited to learn more about our nation's presidents, first ladies, and families (pets, too!).

The beautiful White House!

Walking into the White House, however is no easy task.  Our IDs were checked twice, we were sniffed by drug dogs, and finally went through airport-like metal detectors/screening.  It was intense, but incredibly worth it.  The only disappointment about the tour was that we were not allowed to take pictures inside of the White House.  But the extravagant decorations and uniqueness of every room was easily etched in my memory as I asked Secret Service officers to tell me about the rooms they were guarding.

Our tour was so quick!

From a President's daughter's high school prom in the East Room, to the first lady's get togethers in the Red Room, I was amazed by what all goes on in these seemingly timeless rooms.  In the Green Room, I was even permitted to touch the silk wallpaper with the back of my hand!  It was so soft and different than anything I've ever seen.  We viewed the library and other rooms that had portraits commemorating first ladies and Presidents.  We even got to see an incredibly famous portrait of John F. Kennedy, which was completed after his assassination with the help of his son's frame as a model.  Walking past the red-carpeted staircase leading to the President's residential quarters, we were offered a recipe card for White House Chef, Cris Comerford's Grilled Garden Veggie Pizza.  

After posing for some photos in front of the white house, we were escorted to the gates.  This entire tour took only 15 minutes! It was so quick, yet so incredibly memorable.  And just to think that during this summer I had the opportunity to visit each of the 3 branches of government! Aside from completing all of the work I had to do during my internship, this tour was the perfect ending to my internship at DOEd.  

V is for Vision; Transforming the "Take-a-way"

Last day at the DOEd!

In celebration and remembrance of my last official day at the Department of Education, this post will highlight the main things I've learned during my time here, as well as how this experience will influence my future.  With any vision, there are successful mile markers that occur along the way.  There are also many setbacks, challenges, and road blocks.  But this first time living alone in the "real world," I was able to gain a clearer vision.

To make this a little more simple, I've decided to make a list of the top 3 things I've learned while interning, as well as to explain what made those three things challenging:

1. "There is always going to be something you don't know."
Coming into this internship, I knew DePauw had prepared to discuss the politics of education, society, etc.  I'd already developed my coffee addiction early on in college, so that wouldn't be a problem at an official internship either.  But one thing I wasn't ready for was the education gap that stood between what I knew, and what I needed to know in order to do my job.  It was a little frustrating whenever I had to immediately start reading books and watching videos in order to catch myself up. Shouldn't I have been prepared? At the beginning of June, my answer would have been a worried "Yes?" but now, I am fully aware that there is always going to be something I don't know.  It's impossible to be prepared for every challenge, task, or subject that you're going to need in the real world, or just in life for that matter.  Whether it's cramming in stats videos from Khan Academy or using Google as a new support system, I am always going to have to learn more.  And after what feels like being dropped into unfamiliar waters, I now know that I can swim (or figure things our), and that's all that matters.

2. "Find the beauty in small things and the big things will look brighter."
While these blog posts might make it seem as though living in Washington, D.C. for the summer was a complete breeze and that I was having the time of my life, I have to be honest and say that it was a lot harder than I let on.  Doing things on your own all of the time, and being solely in charge of taking care of yourself for a long period of time is incredibly stressful.  This challenge, however, is something that I think I've mastered simply by taking in every experience and seeing them as small drops in a bigger ocean. The little things like riding the metro and going to the grocery store (things I normally don't do alone) ended up being the times that I felt "wow, I'm really doing this." Laugh all you want, but being responsible for feeding myself every day (at least buying the food) was something I've never had to do before.  Finding the beauty in each of these things made them a lot easier to do.  And at the end of the day, successfully doing these things on my own made all of the "big" things I was doing more worthwhile.

3. "Never sell yourself short."
Whoever came up with the whole "be humble about your accomplishments," obviously wasn't in the real world.  Being raised to always be polite and to not talk about things I've done, the most challenge part about this internship was breaking this habit.  I'm not advising that you shout from the rooftops about every paper or task you complete, but every individual needs to figure out how to be proud of what they have done and what they are doing.  Most of the time, interns are doing the types of things that employees don't have time to do, or don't know how to do.  Either way, it is important to know how valuable you are to a company, especially in an unpaid position.  This last week at my internship has truly allowed me to realize the great work I've been able to do in a short time.  Some of these things I never thought I could do (I mean, statistics, never).  But being able to see the smile and gratitude on the faces of others who appreciate my work inspired me to appreciate my work in the same way.  Selling yourself short doesn't do anybody any good.

Leaving my building and NCES co-workers today will be bittersweet.  I am very excited to go back to Indiana and DePauw, and to start my senior year. However, it has been so nice to get a glimpse at how "grown-up" Rachel life really is.  From challenges to successes, I've truly had a great time here.  Now there just a few days (and hundreds of miles) separating me from home, but I'm looking forward to getting back in the swing of DePauw and starting up what will hopefully be a great year.

With my wonderful supervisor, Elise Christopher!

U is for Ulysses; What will your portrait be?

I have never really considered myself an art person.  Artistic, maybe, but knowing the history and types of art was never really my thing.  One important aspect of art that is seldom realized is that you don't necessarily need to understand art in order to appreciate it.  My trip to the National Portrait Gallery was a direct example of that.

Ulysses S. Grant in most
intense frame I've ever seen!

Walking into the three story building, I was already impressed by the architecture, before even seeing a portrait.  And honestly, I wasn't really sure what to expect, even though the name "Portrait Gallery" seems pretty straight forward.  But this museum was so much more than that.  Each floor was filled with different styles and types of portraits.  There was also an incredibly large portrait of Ulysses S. Grant in a even larger black and gold frame.  The eagle on top was almost bigger than a basketball!  But from wars and presidents, to celebrities and musicians, the portraits made me feel like I was inside of a newspaper or magazine.

All four female Supreme Court Justices!

Of course I had my favorites: Elvis Presley, John Travolta, Madonna, and even Larry Bird! (Yay for Southern Indiana!)  There was even a special exhibit about "cool" and "counter-cool," which I had never heard of before (imagine me saying, "woah man, you're so counter-cool" haha).  The really neat part of these exhibits was that some of the portraits could be "adopted" (but I wouldn't want to see that ticket price!).

My favorite portrait in the entire gallery was indeed the one of all of the female justices of the Supreme Court.  It was a showstopper, if there can be one for portraits.  Each justice was portrayed as a powerful and strong figure.  The portrait was incredibly life-like as well! It was certainly amazing.

Reflecting on my trip to the Portrait Gallery, I started to think about how important these portraits are in telling the history of the United States.  Yes, we have books, articles and journals (and the internet, of course) to inform us of the past, but being able to actually see portraits of great presidents right next to one another truly put the power of portraits in perspective.

Larry Bird!

The King!

One of my favorite museums so far, the National Portrait Gallery was a great way to unwind after work.  It was also a great reminder that as someone who wants to change the world in some shape or form, it's important to familiarize myself with those who have changed the world before me.  Portraits act as tangible reminders of the legacies of not only the artists who created them, but also the great people who are their subjects.

This collection of portraits and celebration of history also asks all of us a very important question:

What will your portrait be? 

T is for Teaching; The universal responsibility to educate

My Mom has taught me to
never give up, no matter how
far away your goal is.

I've waited to write this post for a long time not because it fits with the theme of this blog, but because of what I've learned about teaching this summer.  Working at the Department of Education, you'd expect that I'd learn a little about education, and at least come out of it with informed opinions about what is going on in our education system.  I have done that, but there's one additional part of this experience that isn't as obvious; I have learned what it really means to teach. (And in celebration of that, I've filled this post with images of only some of the amazing teachers I've had in  my life!)

Professor Smita Rahman has taught
me how to follow my passions, even
when the future is unclear.

Without being cliche, I would first like to say that everyone, regardless of age, educational attainment, race, sex, etc. is a teacher.  We are all teachers, even if some are a little better at teaching than others.  Hopefully you've taught someone something before, and hopefully you've taught yourself something, too.  If you're a supervisor, you can be a teacher.  If you're receptionist, you can be teacher.  If you're a cab driver, you can be a teacher. No matter your position, you are a teacher if you choose to be.  And if you've decided to be the type of teacher that gets paid for teaching, I commend you for taking on such a big responsibility in society.  The sacrifices teachers and professors make for everyone else's children is a much larger task than many people know.  But from what I've learned, this responsibility is absolutely not their personal burden to bear.

My Grandmother has taught
me that you can never
love (or read) too much.

You're probably wondering now where I'm going with all of this.  If I have learned one thing this summer (and don't worry, I've learned so much more), it is that everyone needs to take an active role in education.  This is coming from the girl who has always said (and will continue to say) "I don't think teaching is for me."  Yes, I've been told by many that I would make a good teacher and frankly, if that was the position I decided to take, I would do my best at it.  But the reality in my life, and the reality in the world today is that you do not need to have a license or permission in order to make an impact in someone else's life, especially the life of a child.

Mackenzie Cremeans, my AXO sister,
has taught me (literally) that if there
is a will, you  can (and will) find a way.

When I come back to Indiana and to DePauw, I hope that my future work will reflect what I've learned this summer.  I don't hope to be doing the same statistical analysis, but if someone else needs help planning an important presentation or analyzing a set of data, I will teach them what I know.  Just as my intentions with this blog were to inspire and show someone how to go about getting and being successful at an internship, I will make every effort to teach others things that I am familiar with.

For an ending thought to this wonderful "T" blog about teaching, I find it interesting that society as a whole is so incredibly critical/hard on teachers.  If you buy into my theory that everyone should choose to be a teacher (which you should because I've tested it, it's true...), everyone should be taking responsibility for meeting whatever standards of information we decide that the next generation should know.  The saying "It takes a village to raise a child," has never been more warranted.  I feel that I've only just begun my education even though I'm in my 16th year of school, but I'll keep learning, and now teaching every single day for the rest of my life.

If you find yourself pictured in this post, but don't consider yourself a teacher, know that you've been a teacher to me in some way, shape, or form, a testament to the fact that everyone should make teaching their personal priority.

Dubois County Community Foundation
staff and community.

S is for Street Sense; Establishing place and perspective

During my junior year at DePauw, I developed the wonderful habit of reading the newspaper every day.  Whether it was on an app on my phone, or reading the hardcopy on the table in Alpha Chi's dining room, catching up with current events both national and international became a very important part of my education.

Street Sense!

Being in D.C. this habit has progressed.  Besides reading online education news articles and department news briefs, I have found a different type of news than I'm used to: street sense.  A 16-page bi-weekly street newspaper, Street Sense was founded in 2003 with the mission of raising awareness about homelessness and poverty in D.C.  It also creates economic opportunity for individuals who are currently homeless or have been homeless before.

While most people quickly walk past and avoid making eye contact with Street Sense vendors, I've found that taking the time to wish the vendor a good morning, or to simply say hello is worth just as much as buying a paper.  This is especially true for the gentleman named Larry, who stands at the corner of 19th and K Street every morning.  But he doesn't just sell newspapers.  I can always hear Larry wishing everyone a "Happy Monday," or "It's a beautiful day," long before I get to his corner.  Larry has personally taken the time to wish me a good morning every single time I have went to work.  Larry has single-handedly made every single day of my time in D.C. better.

Larry Gardner

Larry gave me
his autograph :)

After weeks of saying hello, smiling, and walking on towards my building, I stopped to buy a paper from Larry.  After weeks and weeks of telling me about the great stories and information in street sense, and me politely refusing to buy, Larry was more than happy to open the paper to direct me to the poem that he had written for that week's edition (you can check out another one of his poems here).  I was more than surprised.  Street sense is a very different type of news source, but one that many of us should learn to pay attention to. At DePauw, I have learned the importance of personal experience and how amazing each and every individuals' stories are; Street Sense is all that in writing and more.

Reading Larry's poetry gave me what I needed to really see D.C. as something other than just a place to work and make connections.  Learning about the people and the place you're staying, working, interning, etc. is vital for making the most of your experience, and truly understanding the world we live in.  So if you're ever in D.C., check out Street Sense. This newspaper will give you a new perspective.

Q/R is for Qualifications of Research; Maybe we do more than we think

Most college students see "research" as a stack of papers, books, and a list of websites that must be read, understood, and analyzed in order to produce a paper accompanied by footnotes longer than the paper itself.  Some students would do just about anything to get out of "research," and see it as something painful, instead of as an opportunity to learn something completely new.  While I've always kind of enjoyed the less exciting version of research, working on research for the Department of Education has given me a chance to re-think what exactly constitutes as "research."

My pile of work research.

Working on our ED Intern Research project, which focuses on the money part of higher education, my group has had our share of this "traditional" pile of papers research.  A quick glimpse at our EduCA$Hion blog would reveal a type of "research project" you would typically expect to see.  But recently, I've found that talking with others about their experiences, listening to leaders talking about their work, and even chatting with individuals on my daily metro rides is, in itself, a type of research.

DePauw teaches us how to do this type of research; we normally call it qualitative. It consists of open-ended surveys and interviews, and doesn't always give us the satisfaction that we've conducted "research," but why is this? Today I was given the opportunity to hear both the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, and the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Catherine Lhamon speak about their experiences and what they've learned in life leading up to their positions.  No one asked "What research did you read to help you get where you are?" And no one asked, "Was that decision you made last week backed up by pages and pages of research?  That is simply not the culture.

Arne speaking about his experiences.

Instead, interns were asking "What experiences in your life most prepared you for your work?" and "What are your worries and excitements for the future of education in the United States.  Let's be honest, there is not an individual on earth that would be able to answer both of those questions completely supported by research.

What was even more interesting was hearing Assistant Secretary Lhamon speak about sexual assault on college campuses (a short video excerpt is below) and why it seems like nothing is being done.  She spoke about the lack of research we have about "what works" for preventing sexual assault.  An advocate for domestic violence and sexual assault awareness, I was intrigued by her prescription for colleges to "create prevention programs so we can figure out what works best."

The bottom line that I've learned today, is that not everything has to be supported by research.  What's even better, is that some research is impossible without individuals acting on their instincts and with their own experiences in mind.  This makes me wonder if the critical thinking and discussion-based classroom style at DePauw isn't it's own type of research. It all depends on how you define research (maybe we need a bit more research for that? or not...)

Maybe DePauw students like and do research more than we think.

P is for Presentation; Sharing what you know

Today was a big day for me as an intern! I was able to give a presentation to anyone in IES that was interested in learning more about Microsoft Publisher.  While the program is incredibly easy to me, it was great to put on my "teacher" hat and to help others to learn something that I find fun and efficient.  Working on this presentation throughout my time here, I was able to express the information in a way that was easy for others to understand, while helping the office to find ways to maximize efficiency.

It was really nice to be taken seriously, which, for many people is the main reason for presenting yourself in a positive manner in the workplace.  As an intern, it can be even more important to present yourself in the right ways in order to both make a good impression and to make the most of your experience.  Presentation goes both ways; you can present informative material and you can present yourself to others.

Nailed it! 

Part of presenting yourself well, is professionalism (another "P" word, I know).  Professionalism, a fairly positive word, can also be extremely challenging whenever frustrations arise.  Believe it or not, not every "professional" acts professionally all of the time.  It can be easy to forget about personal presentation, especially when you get bored with your work, or upset with the conditions of your job.  What is important to remember is how your personal presentation effects not only your own job, but the company you work for, people around you, etc.  Professionalism is a team effort, and each member is held responsible for presenting themselves in the right ways on a daily basis, even interns.

While giving my presentation, I realized why the saying exists, "there's no such thing as a stupid question."  Some of the things people asked were very simple to explain, and confusing simply because they weren't familiar with Publisher.  Other questions threw me off a little bit, and I even ended up learning something myself! This just goes to show that something you might think is a "stupid question," might end up teaching the teacher a thing or two!

My favorite part of today was being able to share something I knew how to do with those who didn't.  Working at the Department of Education, I've realized how much of this actually goes on on a daily basis.  At some companies, it would be easy to imagine that workers go to work, do their job, and go home.  But my experience here has truly exposed me to a type of workplace that allows everyone to be both educators and learners every day.

Maybe I'll end up being a teacher after all - or maybe I'll just find new and innovative ways to "present" myself to those around me.  That's kind of like teaching, right?

O is for Order; In the Highest U.S. Court

The Supreme Court!!!

I bet you were able to guess that today's excursion included a tour of the highest court in the United State: The Supreme Court.  Built in 1935 after the tenth Chief Justice (and former President),William Howard Taft convinced Congress that the third branch of U.S. government deserved it's own space.  In my post about Capitol Hill (H is for Hill), I spoke about the Old Supreme Court Chamber, but was glad to finally get to see the inside of the beautiful courtroom where Brown v. Board, Roe v. Wade, and the most recent case involving Hobby Lobby were decided.

Sandra Day O'Connor's chair!

"Justice, the Guardian of Liberty"

Photography was not allowed inside of the actual courtroom, but I highly recommend that anyone who is interested in law, government, or simply what it means to be a citizen in the U.S. should check out the symbolism present in the Supreme Court courtroom.  I learned about the placement of every chair in the room, as well as who gets to sit in them.  We learned about the trial process, and that it's really not the traditional trial that we are used to.  Both opposing sides get 30 minutes to speak, but that includes any questions that the Justices might ask.  We also learned about the recording device used to document everything that goes on in the courtroom.  Additionally, we learned about the courtroom artists (who sit at the left side of everything) who because of their position in the room, always paint the right profiles of the justices (hopefully that's their "good side").

The second half of the tour explained the process that the Justices go through, the duties they have, as well as how long everything takes.  The first Monday in October is always the first day of the term.  They stop listening to cases in April, and finish up with everything in June (fitting, seeing as Hobby Lobby was just announced a few weeks ago).  There's no method to say how long or short it will take for a decision to be made, the opinions/dissents to be written, and the public to find out what the new ruling is.  Out of 8,000 cases brought to the Supreme Court, less than 1% of them are actually heard (that's 80 cases, still a lot!).  All of these facts were fascinating and I got chills listening to them in the same room where everything happens.

Chief Justice John Marshall (he's the one
who had the Marbury v. Madison case that
decided the Supreme Court could check/overrule
Congress).

Finally, we learned about the conference room that only Justices are allowed to enter (literally only the 9 justices can go in).  Talk about privacy! They have a rule that every justice gets to speak once (starting from the chief justice to the member with the least amount of seniority), before a single justice speaks twice.  Think about if we applied that rule to the classroom!

Our wonderful tour guide left us with a puzzling fact: "The Supreme Court is not actually the "highest court" in the land, because there is a basketball court immediately above the courtroom." Who would have thought! One brave soul asked her whether the Supreme Court Justices ever "shoot some hoops," and was met with her witty answer: "Of course not, because they are always on the bench!"  After some good laughs and a museum-like tour of the rest of the building, I headed back to work to prepare for the BIG presentation I would be giving later in the week (you'd better believe there will be a post about that!).


If you have time, be sure to check out the documentary on C-Span that interviews some of the Justices in regards to the history, construction, and symbolism of the Supreme Court!

N is for New; My trip to the Bonner High Impact Conference

Cornfields in the middle of campus!
Just like in Indiana?

This week was packed full of "new" experiences.  It just so happens that I was also in the state of "New" York at the Bonner Foundation's High Impact Initiative.  Hosted at Siena College, the Bonner High Impact Conference brought together three cohorts of schools working towards civic engagement and with plans for community change.  I went to a new place.  I met new people.  And I got to experience a new aspect of DePauw life that I have not been exposed to before: Civic Engagement and Community Program Planning.

Our planning board!

Walking the campus at Siena, we were inspired to think bigger about community and civic engagement at DePauw.  Working with civic engagement staff for the past two years, I thought I had seen, heard, and brainstormed it all.  My passion for DePauw Community Service has been one of the most amazing parts about my college experience, but meeting with people who have dedicated their lives to the Bonner program and civic engagement programs around the country shed a new light on everything I had ever learned about service.

DePauw's presentation board!

Grateful that my supervisors at the Department of Education allowed me to work remotely and attend the conference for a week, I was more than ready to construct a plan for DePauw's civic engagement staff for 2014-15.  Our team consisted of a faculty member, a staff member, a community member and a student (that's me!).  We were presented with a week full of meetings, workshops, and presentations in the hopes that we would be able to construct the second-year plan for DePauw's Bonner High Impact commitment.

After a week at the conference (and a ton of fun), I had been able to network with some of the most amazing and inspirational individuals I have ever met.  It was so rewarding to be able to hear what was going on in other college communities.  We realized that many of the problems, issues and setbacks that we face on a daily basis at DePauw were very similar to those at other universities.  We were also able to get valuable critiques and feedback about our plan, which we presented "poster-session" style (just like we do at DePauw!).  My experience with presenting and networking with others really came in handy this week!

DePauw Professor, Doug Harms presents our High Impact
Plan to other interested members of the conference.

Impressed with our work, as well as the connections we had made, the DePauw Bonner High Impact team headed back to Indiana...except for me that is! I am on my way back to D.C. for my final two weeks at the Department of Education.  It was so nice to get away for a while, but I am definitely ready to get back to work!

Listening to other groups present was so inspiring!

M is for Metro; The "How To" Guide

Ask anyone who talked to me before the beginning of this summer about D.C. and they will all tell you the one thing I was most worried about: the Metro.  Born and raised in a small, rural city in Southern Indiana, I was not familiar with public transportation, especially not a train with a color as a name that races from place to place underground. You should have seen my anxiety the first time I went to the metro station to do a test run for my internship.  Now, most of you don't have the same metro knowledge deficiencies that I did, but for those of you who have never been, here's your official
"how-to" metro guide!

Welcome to the Platform!

The first thing to know about the metro is that when you buy your ticket, you should be prepared (as in, you should have small bills as well as a debit/credit card on hand).  I found it easiest to buy a Smartrip card, which works well for daily riders as well as long term users of the metro.  For a one-time trip, however, it might be best to look up your fare costs and get a fare card.

Once you've gotten through the turnstile, especially in rush hour, it is incredibly important that you know which direction you are going.  This can be particularly challenging for someone (like me) who is directionally challenge.  Each color metro line is set up and named by the two stations at either of its end.  This helps riders navigate the direction of each track, as well as which side to wait on.  In other words, you don't actually have to know the cardinal direction that you want to go, you just have to know which line to get on. How neat! After riding the metro for a week, I already had most of these end stations memorized, so I can get on at almost any stop and still get to where I need to go.

What a view!

When navigating the station to get to your correct track, it is important to be aware of others, many of which are hurrying around just as much as you are.  If you have a piece of rolling luggage, or simply want to ride the escalator from one level to another, it is important that you stay to the RIGHT.  Riders wishing to walk (or sometimes run) up or down the escalator will go to the left.  This is sort of like the common courtesy of walking to the right of someone you pass on the street.  I've noticed that people from different countries tend to go to the left (which makes sense because of their driving rules), so always be watching where you're going.

Switching line is something I thought would be quite terrifying, but surprisingly, it is on of the coolest parts about the metro.  Riders can switch lines at various locations, and it is fun to figure out the quickest way to get from one place or another (there could be multiple).  In the mornings, I have to switch from the green/yellow line to the red line.  I can do this at two different stations.  It's fun to switch up my morning commute, see different stations and scenery, and even to try and beat the crowd (which sometimes is impossible).

Other than the obvious reminders of being safe, keeping track of your belongings, and arriving on time, this "how to" guide has covered most of the interesting tips and tricks that I've learned.  It might not seem like much to someone who is familiar at the metro (a metro pro, for short), but for a newcomer to public transportation, I hope this guide makes your internship a little less stressful and prepares you a little more. I sure wish I would have had a guide like this to ease my worry post-internship!

Inside the station! 

L is for Love; The top 25 things I love about D.C.

In celebration of the Fourth of July holiday, I thought it would be nice to stray from the normal blog format and to write a list of the top 25 things I love most about D.C. (so far).

The best fireworks!

1. There is a Starbucks on every corner.

2. I can walk to most places in the city.

3. I meet someone new everyday.

4.  Being able to see the monuments at the National Mall on a daily basis.

5. Fireworks in D.C. are somehow more patriotic than anywhere else in the country. Plus there are more American flags here than I've seen in my entire life.

6.  I can go to museums for free whenever I want.

7.  People on the street speak so many different languages.

Flags everywhere!

8.  I get to witness some of the things I read about in the newspaper.

9.  Food trucks are always around, even when I'm not hungry and shouldn't eat their unhealthy food.

10.  D.C. people are well-dressed.

11.  There is Thai food here! 

12.  The Walmart requires one to both park in a parking garage and ride an elevator.

13.  You can watch the House and Senate in galleries, just like C-span!

14. There are fresh food markets within walking distance of my office.

15.  I get to meet the people whose names are in Education Research reports.

The Shake Shack is also
a new fave!

16.  The Pita Pit (if you haven't eaten there, you don't understand).

17.  The custard/shaved-ice chain Rita's is seriously the best.

18.  Walk signs are more of suggestions than rules.

19.  There's a sense of urgency and a busy-ness about the city.

20. The metro is clean, and not scary (spoiler alert for my next post).

21.  It's our nation's freaking capitol!

22.  The National Library of Education is my new favorite library.

23.  There's something liberating about being in a new place on your own.

24.  Washington Nationals baseball games!

25.  This city has made me one happy girl for the entire summer!

Hopefully by the end of this summer, I'll have 25 more to add on to this list! 

K is for Kerry!; The incredible DePauw Alumni bond

You haven't met them all, you feel like you already kind of know them, but one day you'll be just like them: Alumni.

DePauw has done an excellent job opening the networks of communication between its current and past students, but the scene is even better when you get to meet and connect with fellow Tigers in person.  With DePauw Alumni LinkedIn groups, DePauw's new online Alumni Directory, and the Evertrue Alumni App (my personal favorite) that connects all past DePauw students, by location, major, year, Greek house, etc.,

Our wonderful seats!

Throughout my time so far in D.C., I have been fortunate enough to meet a few DePauw alums who are just as excited to hang out with me, as I am awed to get to hang out with them.  Fellow Alpha Chi sisters as well, Kerry (this post is her namesake), Lynn, and Caitie have invited me to hang out with them on various occasions and it has been one of the best parts about living in this city. But for reasons hard to express to those unfamiliar with DePauw, or the bond between DePauw Alumni.

Fireworks after the game!

If you go to DePauw (or any school for that matter) you are probably familiar with the feeling you get when you meet someone that knows of, or has attended your school.  It's their Alma mater, but it's your current home, so an immediate bond is formed simply by shaking hands and exchanging smiles. But that's not the only exciting part.  There's something to be said about the DePauw bond, but it's extremely hard to explain.  They are like you. They are comfortable to be around.  They are familiar with everything you're going to because they have been through it already.  And your "shared" experiences of Monon Bell Game, Little 5, Marvin's, late nights at the Duck, and DePauw Greek life in general become not only individual memories, but things you can talk with alumni about for hours.

While the world might still think we go to school in Chicago (DePaul), instead of the beautiful hilly cornfields of Greencastle, Indiana, DePauw students, past and present, are not mistaken on both the academic and social benefits of attending DePauw.  It's amazing how DePauw students and their predecessors just "click" and get along.  The university is always advising students to get in touch with alums, ask for help, and network network network! But here, I have found that the true value of getting to meet and know alums a little bit better, is to find a trustworthy friend (and mentor) in someone you've just met, simply because you both went to DePauw.

Other schools might have these same experiences, but I'm sticking to my story that DePauw connections rival even the top Ivy League schools.  Going to a Washington Nationals game with these wonderful alums was also exciting, because they are all still friends.  They all still hang out.  They all still have fun. And they all still talk about Depauw.  I think all current DePauw students secretly hope that they will be able to stay in touch, communicate, and hang out with their friends from DePauw.  The only negative part about attending DePauw for college is that one day, they make you leave.

But with every alum I meet, I learn that the DePauw experience doesn't have to end with walking across the stage at graduation. The DePauw bond is one that keeps on giving, long after you stop doing boulder runs, and even after you stop wearing your Greek week t-shirts.

Meeting up with DePauw (and Alpha Chi) alums at the ballpark!
From Left to Right: Lynn, Kerry, Caitie, and #TeamRachel

J is for "Justice;" Learning to embrace a liberal arts education

I haven't been to the United States Holocaust Museum since I was in 8th grade, but I remember every second of it.  Today was a type of deja vu in that I was seeing the same tragic photos and emotional videos as I saw whenever I was 14.  The only difference was that today I was actually able to take a deeper look at the explanations and artifact.  Today, I was able to use my college education to think more critically about what happened in Germany.

The exterior of the Holocaust Museum.  This will be my
only picture of visiting the museum out of respect for the
victims and survivors of the Holocaust.

This past Spring at DePauw, I was fortunate enough to get into "Equality and Justice," a very popular political science course taught by the one and only, Professor Smita Rahman.  Taking a look at the philosophy, sociology, and politics behind various instances of "equality" and "justice" in the past opened my understanding of what exactly equality and justice were and are.  We read Mill, Rousseau, Marx and even Goldman in order to unpack what these terms mean.  As you might have noticed, I've used quotes to initially introduce these topics.  This is because (as my POLS 235 class knows very well) it is very difficult to nail down what exactly "equality" means, and exactly what constitutes "justice."

There is nothing good to be said for the Holocaust.  Don't even try to come up with something (I swear I'll cyber slap you).  And after a day of touring the Holocaust Museum and Memorial for the second time, I can't help but wonder: Where was equality? And was justice ever served?

My ticket.

My good friend, Anna Gawlik, a sophomore at DePauw, actually wrote her final paper for the course about the Nuremberg trials, discussing what ended up being the "justice served."  Today at the museum, I thought about her paper.  I also thought about a sociology course that I took at DePauw my sophomore year called, "The sociology of deviance."  It was one of the best courses I've taken at DePauw.  Professor David Newman spent an entire semester basically explaining that every rule, norm, disease, and crime is the product of social construction of what "society" doesn't like, or doesn't think should be.  I'm sure we can all attest to the fact that "society," as well as its definitions has been a giant work in progress.  We didn't just wake up one day and think that driving too fast was a bad thing.  Someone had to crash in order for repercussions to be made, and in order for a "justice" to be served.

My Identification Card. Luckily, Nesse
survived this tragic event. 

Walking thought the exhibits (I did not take pictures out of respect for the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, as the museum doubles as a memorial), I read the explanations, I saw the videos, and I read along with my "Identification Card," a passport for the museum that works to personalize the experience. While my story card was of a survivor, that is not always the case.  2 out of every 3 European Jews were killed under Hitler's rule.  Books were burned, businesses were destroyed, people were discriminated against and turned into slaves, and families were ripped apart.  Pre-Holocaust, it would have been hard to imagine such an atrocity.  Post-Holocaust, it's impossible to forget.

The Holocaust was the "crash" that shook history.  Looking back and learning about the Holocaust invites the screaming questions: "What were you doing? What were you allowing? Why was this allowed to happen?" Seeing the minimal intervention by the United States, and the "misunderstanding" of what was really happening, was one of the worst aspects of the tour.  Since Civil Rights, Women's Rights, and now LGBTQ Rights, the definition of equality and justice has certainly changed in the United States.  It's hard to look back now and to see how long concentration camps, ghettos, and persecution of Jews was allowed to go on.  What's even more troubling is the political/electoral processes and systems that allowed Hitler to stay in power for so long...(definitely learned about Germany's Reichstag elections in Professor Brett O'Bannon's Comparative Politics course this past semester).

Today forced me to reflect.  It also allowed me the opportunity to use some of what I've learned in unique courses at DePauw (let's be real, none of these courses would have been possible if it weren't for DePauw's Liberal Arts structure) to analyze, think, and gain a deeper understanding of not just a horrible event, but a period in time where the concepts of equality and justice existed, but were quite skewed from what we see as equal and just now.  This experience has not only opened my eyes and understanding, but has motivated me to apply more of my Liberal Arts education into everything I do.  We definitely take for granted how great we have it at DePauw (and in the U.S. for that matter), just as we take it for granted that our definitions of "equality" and "justice" have grown to prohibit an atrocity like the Holocaust.

I is for Independence; The ultimate reminder of an internship's purpose

Taking time to reflect on the upcoming week celebrating our nation's birthday, I am also reminded of what this internship has taught me so far.  While studying vocabulary words for the GRE, I was in dictionary mode, and decided to look up the real definition of "independence." As expected, Google reported that independence is the fact or state of being independent (no shocker there). It's been said that there is no better place to celebrate the Fourth of July than the nation's capitol, but my excitement for this week is rivaled by my personal celebration of living, learning, and growing as an individual.

In D.C., Independence isn't just red, white, and blue fireworks on a special day.  It's also the history and memories of what has made this country great; it is the reminder of the great people this country has created.  Independence Day, a holiday that has been my favorite since I was a kid, is the one day of the year that everyone celebrates the United States for the unique country that it is.  It is my opinion, that this very independence is something that we all take for granted every day of the year. My internship, however, has allowed me to experience a new sort of independence; one that isn't just about picnics and parties, but exposes the real fireworks of what it means to be "on your own."

Believe it or not, this
was my first solo trip to
Barnes and Noble...

Ask anyone, and they will confidently tell you that I am a very social person.  But taking the butterfly out of her natural element is enough to shake things up a bit and to make being alone uncomfortable.  I used to laugh at people who said the Midwest was "too friendly," but through my experiences here, I now know that the social atmosphere of DePauw and the state I grew up in is an asset, not a flaw.

Putting yourself out there to meet new people, new faces, and new opportunities is an action that I have only had to do one other time in my life: when going off to college.  Now, I see how difficult it is to truly trust people when you're "away from home." But the simple times when I have made an effort to reach out to someone waiting for the metro, or have complimented a woman on her dress while waiting in line at Starbucks, have been the most rewarding of my time here.

There is not a classroom, a symposium, or a teacher that can teach you how to be on your own.  If anything, getting too familiar with one place or a group of people can hinder vital social skills for being successful in the real world.  I've always been the one to harp on how wonderful LinkedIn is (raise your hand if I've basically forced you to create an account at some point...) but there is something to be said for being on your own, being socially vulnerable, and meeting new people.

While this week will certainly bring many more reflections on how lucky I am to have been given this opportunity, and how lucky I am to have freedom in the United States of America, it will also bring about an appreciation for my newfound skill of meeting people, and interacting in an unfamiliar world.

A wise friend once gave me the advice to "Do one thing every day that scares you," (a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, if you're unfamiliar).  I can certainly say that I have done just that so far in my time here.  With new experiences come new fears, but it is only through conquering those fears that I have been able to truly embrace my independence.

The special reminder of wise advice from an even wiser friend. :)