Students Learn Politics
First-Hand
Herndon High School political science students spend
semester interning in Washington.
By
Brynn Grimley
March 3, 2005
A peek into the journal of HHS
political science intern,
Jeanette Snider:
"As
I was about to board the subway
that would take me to the
Capitol, I saw Sen. Clinton. She
was walking the opposite
direction, toward the Senate
offices and waved to people who
caught her attention. I waved
and was so excited. The trip to
the House offices was
incredible. Although I was
extremely nervous, taking that
letter was the best thing that
happened to me because I got
confidence to fulfill more
projects for people and I was
about to see the beautiful
Capitol and other senators. On
my way back from the House, I
saw Sen. McCain, Sen. Salazar
and Rep. Jeff Davis." — journal
entry, Feb. 16.
"Being with all the other
interns got extremely
interesting. We debated many
issues from the war in Iraq to
the death penalty. I didn’t
think I would have to defend
liberal opinions with anyone in
Sen. Clinton’s office but it was
fun to debate my beliefs and
opinions on various issues." —
journal entry, Feb. 23.
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Jeanette
Snider is like any other senior at Herndon High School,
she attends after-school events, hangs out with friends
and participates in typical graduating senior
activities.
But, opposite most graduating seniors, Sen. Barack Obama
(D-Ill) is Snider's hero — politics are Snider's
passion.
Although one of approximately 60 political science
students interning on Capitol Hill or with political
interest groups, when Snider is asked about her
internship on The Hill, she becomes giddy with
excitement.
"It's great to work someplace where I feel so passionate
about the same things she feels passionate about," said
Snider about interning in Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's
(D-NY) office, adding she read her book this summer.
"I was interested in Clinton anyways, I respect her and
her opinions," she said. "Besides the fact that she is
the first former First Lady to be a senator and half of
my family is in New York."
As one of many interns in Clinton's office, Snider said
tasks that could seem boring to other people, such as
sorting mail, still pique her interest.
"I love doing mail because I am able to see the thoughts
and opinions of Sen. Clinton’s constituents," said
Snider in a journal entry of her experiences.
ALTHOUGH THE political science internship program has
been around for a while, after working with the original
program 10 years ago, U.S. History, political science
and philosophy teacher Doug Graney, thought it could be
better.
"I decided to do the program on my own because I didn't
like the system," said Graney explaining originally
teachers throughout Fairfax County joined to place
students in various internships.
Because the first program did not offer students a
choice in where they were placed, Graney said that was
one of the first things he changed.
Now, students prepare a list of possible offices where
they would like to work, and although they do not always
get their first choice, Graney said he tries to place
them in an office with the same political affiliation.
"Students do a better job if they are working some place
they like," he said. "And those places are more willing
to have us back if they do well."
Through the program — a political-science elective —
students are able experience a hands-on education of
American politics while getting out of the classroom.
"It's a good experience to be out of the building," said
Rebecca Small, Advanced Placement government teacher.
"And they get experience in a 'real-world' environment."
Small explained she and Graney have to call multiple
offices to see if students could be placed for the
two-month internship.
"With some of the internships we have relationships with
the offices and they take the students quickly," said
Small. "But because the program is growing it's really
more cold-calling offices now."
Small added because a majority of students request
Democratic offices, and because the Democrats are
currently a minority on The Hill, it's hard to meet
first choices.
"I never thought of myself as a sales person as a
teacher so I have to get used to the role," said Small
about having to sell the program. "But, it's great to
see the kids learning."
Through the political-science elective, students leave
school before the last period of the day to be in the
city from 1:30 p.m. to roughly 5 p.m. Although they
rarely meet as a class, Graney and Small have asked the
students to complete journals of their day-to-day
experiences to be graded.
"Because they are living near D.C. they should be able
to take advantage of it," said Graney. "These students
are the only high school kids in the county to do
something like this."
IN ADDITION TO BEING the only high-school students with
this opportunity, this year, because Graney had a
connection, two students were placed at the United
States Department of Homeland Security (USDHS).
One of those students was Laura Saville.
"I am actually not doing as much office stuff as some of
the other students," said Saville.
Because she is not only the first high-school intern,
but one of the first interns ever to be at USDHS,
Saville said she has been able to do a lot more work
than she expected.
"I think it's worked to my advantage," she said. "Some
of the stuff they were telling me, I was kind of
surprised they were telling me, but they are very
willing to share everything with me."
Christian Bolus was placed in a political interest group
and said although he didn't get his first choice — the
Lebanese Embassy — he is enjoying his internship with
the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana
Laws (NORML).
"I am a strong supporter of the cause and have learned
so much about the issues since I have been there," he
said. "Everyone who works there is knowledgeable about
so many things."
Bolus said through his internship he has done some
clerical work, but more recently he has been asked to
monitor newspapers and write letters to the editor for
any stories that misrepresent or misconstrue the
legalization of marijuana.
In addition he said he has learned about legislation
behind legalizing medicinal marijuana and hemp products
and the decriminalization of marijuana — to eventually
make it legal.
As an intern for Sen. John Kerry (D-Ma), Sally Levine
said her experience is very different.
"There are a lot of other interns," she said. "So
there's not a lot of work to do."
Levine said she chose Kerry because she was from
Massachusetts and partially because she had followed him
during the 2004 elections in a prior political-science
class.
"I guess the office was pretty crazy before when he was
doing everything, but now it's died down," she said.
"They said it was like losing a family member when he
lost."
Now there is little to no talk of the presidential
election loss, although Levine said she has filtered
opinionated mail reminding Kerry of the loss and telling
him to "stop acting like he is president."
Levine added although she has yet to meet Kerry in
person, she has seen him from across the way in the
office.
"He looks better in person than he did on TV," she said.
"He's tall."
Although his internship for Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va) has
been somewhat boring because he is primarily answering
mail, Jimmy Gilbert said as a voter he has learned more
about some of the state's more pressing issues.
"I agree with him on most of the issues ... I was voting
this year so I followed him," said Gilbert. "I feel like
I have a better handle [on how things are run] because
my desk is next to the chief of staff."
Evan Power, said he chose to intern with Sen. John
McCain (R-Ariz) for two reasons, one because he is a
well-known political figure and two because he plans to
attend Arizona State University.
"I wanted to intern there for mostly selfish reasons,"
he said. "I want to try and transfer to the state office
and intern there during college."
Power said he has lucked out with his internship,
because although there are numerous interns many of them
are college students who are willing to show him the
ropes of the Capitol.
Although each student, including Gilbert who was greeted
by Wolf upon walking in the office on his first day, has
had different experiences, each student agrees the
hardest thing so far has been navigating the Capitol.
"The Capitol police have become my new best friends,"
joked Snider.
But, they also admit, getting lost has it's benefits.
"You get a little star struck," said Levine about
getting lost and running into congressmen in the halls
and on elevators.
FOR SNIDER, according to her journal entries, "by far
the highlight of [her] life thus far" was when she
accidentally ran into her hero.
"I did not say hello, yet Sen. Obama did receive several
smiles and a look that said 'Oh My Goodness Am I
DREAMING?'" said Snider in her entry about the
encounter.
As of right now the majority of the students' days are
spent running letters, but eventually — once they have
mastered the halls of the Capitol — they will give tours
to school groups and constituents.
And although Levine, Gilbert, Power, Bolus and Saville
said they don't plan to pursue a career in politics, the
five said they know the experiences they gain through
their internships will be invaluable.
In contrast, Snider — who said politics has been her
passion since the 2000 election — can't wait to see
where her experiences take her.
"Look for her in the 2030 presidential election," said
Graney.
"It's been great so far," said Snider. "Just being in
the environment is the best thing for me."
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