Sydney was a Congressional Intern for Congresswoman Celeste Maloy during Summer 2025.
Briefly explain what you did and the result of your internship.
My duties mostly involved being the front line for office interactions with constituents such as taking calls, directing anyone who came into the office, leading tours of the Capitol, and walking people to their next meeting. However, I also got the opportunity to help the Congressional staff with additional tasks. I was assigned to write letters to constituents worried about certain issues based on my interests, so I did research and wrote letters about GLP-1 compounds, immigration, and the Israel-Palestine conflict. I also got the opportunity to take an interest group meeting when our foreign affairs staffer was unavailable. I took notes during the meeting, researched the concerns the interest group had, and passed it along to the staffer.
What did you learn on your internship that you were not expecting to learn?
I learned much more about the democratic process than I was expecting. There are more regulations and rules that would be hard to understand if you didn't work in the Capitol. I understand the legislative process much better now.
How have your future plans changed because of what you learned from your internship experience?
I realized that I really enjoy working in the government and there's opportunities to research and learn and write there. I also realized I don't like the busy schedule of federal staffers but I want to pursue opportunities in the state government which seem to be slightly less demanding.
Please share how your experience led to personal inspiration or insightful revelation.
I went through periods of anxiety during this internship regarding whether or not I should pursue staying in Washington and working on the Hill full-time but as I talked to my co-workers and other interns, I learned more about my options and was able to make informed decisions about my future. I was able to realize that I didn't need to be anxious about graduation and I could trust on my mentors, my own research, and, most importantly, God's plan for me.
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
Yes - I had a lot of fun being in the Capitol, attending interesting briefings, and getting to know the other staff. Although it was hard at times, it was such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I relished every opportunity to try something new. Being in the middle of all the madness helped me understand it better and I know I will be walking away with more appreciation for the process. Additionally, I have a better idea of what I want to do because I've gotten the chance to actually interact in a Congressional office, rather than just searching online what staffers do.
Is there anything else you would like to say regarding your internship?
I loved it! Thank you to the Barlow Center for providing me a place to stay!
