As an intern at the Federal Judicial Center (FJC) my primary responsibility has been to create a timeline of bankruptcy law in the United States, a project that involved extensive historical research and led me to become especially well informed about the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005. I also edited and updated our Court Operations Exchange website, which facilitates communication between federal court staff members across the nation. I've improved my understanding of and vocabulary related to the federal court system and now feel confident interacting with clerks and administrative staff members. I even helped my supervisors prepare for the annual National Conference for Bankruptcy Court Clerks, Bankruptcy Administrators, Bankruptcy Appellate Panel Clerks, and Chief Deputy Clerks in Seattle, Washington--a fantastic networking opportunity which I also attended.

My program advisor arranged numerous site visits to help us get an insider's perspective of the nation's capital, including trips to the Pentagon and the Federal Reserve. Additionally, as part of my Washington Center academic course, Press, Politics and Public Policy, we toured the National Press Club and saw a live taping of a news show.

In my free time, I enjoyed touring D.C.'s famous buildings and monuments, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the Capitol, and the National Archives. A diverse group of other Washington Center interns was always around for company--my roommates came from New Mexico, Puerto Rico and Japan, while previously I'd never lived with someone from outside of the Midwest. I'd tell future students not to have unreasonable expectations of their internships--as long as they keep an open mind, set goals and stay motivated, they'll learn a lot just from being exposed to a new and professional environment.

At the U.S. Department of the Treasury, I was placed within the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and given a substantial amount of responsibility. My most comprehensive project involved creating the Strategic Plan for the Office of the Chief of Staff (OCOS), an assignment that tasked me with writing the mission, vision and value statements, conducting environmental scanning and defining the goals of the Office in an appropriate format. I also edited a 70-page document the TTB needed to provide for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which detailed our progress made within the last fiscal year. Another objective I accomplished was developing a lively PowerPoint presentation to outline the Performance Assessment Rating Tool (PART). The Chief of Staff used this presentation during TTB's annual Managerial Conference, and I got to observe as federal agents learned from my work!

Opportunities for networking in Washington surpassed all of my expectations. I was pleasantly surprised by the willingness of professionals to share their experiences and advice with me. Ultimately, I was introduced to field agents at the TTB, Department of State, and FBI, and these encounters have strengthened my motivation to become a federal agent someday. Being required to perform well in a "real world" environment has helped me to mature as an individual. Social skills in an office setting are essential--I found that government workers appreciate a sense of humor and aren't always serious when interacting with one another.

Getting to know my roommates and explore the city with other Washington Center interns was one of the highlights of my time here. Every day was a new experience--we ate dinner together, went sightseeing on weekends and even attended a Red Sox game in Baltimore. I may be living in the nation's capital, but I'm still a Bostonian at heart! I'm confident that the knowledge and skills I've gained through this internship program--not to mention the letters of recommendation, enhanced resume and portfolio--will help direct me on my future path, opening doors along the way.