Through my internship at mCapitol Management, a bipartisan firm that engages in government relations activities and represents the interests of different businesses in Washington, D.C., I became immersed in the world of lobbying. My exciting position required a diverse set of skills and allowed me to contribute to our clients' achievement of their objectives. I monitored legislation that would impact various industries. For example, I kept several clients updated on the status of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 2006, as this issue affected the way they would be able to conduct business. I also performed a competitive analysis for mCapitol Management, researching prospective clients and their current representation in order to help the firm decide which businesses to pursue. Not only did I help to set up meetings for lobbyists on the Hill, but I got to accompany them and see first-hand how these individuals interact with government officials and influence public policy. I felt that it was important to take advantage of all opportunities that my colleagues and supervisors presented to me, big or small. Along with support from my coworkers, I also had my Washington Center program advisor to help me through every stage of the internship process. It was really comforting to know that there was someone in my corner.

In addition to exploring the nation's capital, I also took trips to other destinations on the East Coast. I spent a couple of weekends in New York City, traveled to Philadelphia and caught a glimpse of U.S. history in Colonial Williamsburg.

My internship at the Library of Congress Geography and Map Division was a dream come true. On a daily basis, I scanned maps not protected by copyright for processing in Adobe Photoshop and posting on our website. I worked with panoramic and landownership maps as well as a few atlases; some were even created by the CIA. I gained experience with Macromedia Dreamweaver and Fireworks by updating the content of our staff website, and had the opportunity to acquire numerous skills that aren't taught in an undergraduate classroom. I learned how to catalog and practiced handling delicate materials.

I took advantage of my insider status at the Library of Congress in order to see some items rarely viewed by the public, such as the Waldseemuller Map, circa 1507. This map was the first to feature the word "America" and to correctly divide the Eastern and Western Hemispheres--attributes that contributed to its 10 million dollar price tag! I also got a tour of the Rare Book Division, which houses treasures like Abraham Lincoln's grammar book and inaugural Bible.

Through The Washington Center's Advocacy, Service and Arts Program, focused on the work of nonprofit organizations, I was fortunate to hear from many leaders in this sector. One speaker told us how in college he dreamed of helping underprivileged elementary school students learn to read and become excited about education. He later founded Heads Up, a successful after-school program in Washington, D.C. The most important thing I'll take away from this semester is a desire to get involved in my community, become a more effective citizen and maybe work for a nonprofit in some capacity.

I'm glad that I got this preview of real life before I graduated from college. Now I've taken care of an apartment, shopped at a grocery store, gotten along with roommates, performed in a professional environment and balanced my personal life with a full academic and work schedule. With the rich history, numerous monuments, Smithsonian museums, art and culture in the nation's capital, there could be no better setting for this experience.