Trixie was a legislative intern for Senator Mitt Romney during Fall 2023.
Briefly explain what you did and the result of your internship.
Interacted with Utah constituents on the phone, replied to constituent inquiries and mail, provided tours of the US Capitol, wrote form letters, and helped assign citizens who needed assistance with casework to the appropriate staff member.
What did you learn on your internship that you were not expecting to learn?
I realized I did not want to work in the legislative branch. My major is business which emphasizes organization and efficiency. That is what I am good at, but the legislative branch is literally designed to be inefficient. After working in the legislative branch I realized I would rather work in the executive branch or the private sector. My expectations of what happens in the Senate and Appellate Courts have changed significantly. What happens in reality vs what you are taught in school are rather different. I realized that what I am taught in school is an idealistic and simplified view of all the ins and outs of how the federal government actually operates.
How have your future plans changed because of what you learned from your internship experience?
They have not. I still plan to finish my undergrad in Strategic Management and then go to law school.
Please share how your experience led to personal inspiration or insightful revelation.
I realized that the people you meet, the connections you make, and the relationships you develop are the most important aspects of internship opportunities. The people are what make or break the internship.
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
Absolutely! Definitely participate! Initially, I didn’t think I would be able to afford to go to Washington DC (after all, I’m a poor broke college student), but the Washington Seminar made it affordable!
