As part of Butler’s Domestic Study Away program, junior Political Science major Brady Stinson spent the fall semester in Washington, DC, interning for Congressman André Carson and the constituents of Indiana’s 7th Congressional District. For this Washington, DC Learning Semester, Stinson was tasked with answering phone calls, compiling press clips, corresponding with other constituents, and staying up-to-date with current events and legislative-related research.
While on its face that might sound relatively straightforward, “It’s constantly evolving,” says Stinson. “Every single day is different. You never know what’s going to happen. Our Legislative Director likes to characterize it as ‘drinking water from a fire hose’; you learn so much at a constantly changing pace that it can be hard to find your footing, but once you do, you’ll likely succeed here.”
In addition to his everyday tasks as an intern he also learned how to be interviewed, developed additional communication and leadership skills, and got to know people at the Capitol.
“Networking is a huge thing on Capitol Hill,” Stinson says. “Butler alumni are always willing to help and just chat. They all want what’s best for our tight-knit community and for everybody to succeed and flourish. It’s always great meeting up with Butler alumni because we all come from the same place, and there’s no better place than Butler.”
For Stinson, the program application and the housing process was seamless. However, when it comes to finding an internship, the program puts that responsibility on the student to apply and experience on their own. Stinson was able to use prior connections from when he worked on Carson’s campaign to get his internship with the Congressman. “I was very fortunate to use my connections that I had built with the campaign and individuals that I had met previously. They’ve always been my biggest supporters.”
“The internship applications are pretty rigorous,” Stinson says. “A lot of people want to be here, and it is hyper competitive, so being able to get into it was certainly a privilege that I never took for granted. Just being able to walk past the Capitol every single day was never lost on me.”
Senior History and Political Science major Lauren Stubbs spent spring 2024 interning in the White House for the Domestic Policy Council where they did research, drafted talking points for the Director, communicated with other offices, and worked on projects. Their favorite part of the internship was seeing policies enacted from start to finish, and work on issues they had been involved with since the beginning of college.
Stubbs applied to Butler’s Domestic Study Away program with the hope of getting an internship in Washington, DC.
After getting into the program, Stubbs says Butler took a hands-off approach in helping them obtain the internship. While this was stressful for Stubbs at times, they said it was also helpful because it forced them to experience the reality of searching for a job and facing rejection.
“It can be a lot initially,” Stubbs says. “You have to find an internship in a different state. But it also helps because it’s taking a risk on yourself or betting on yourself. I would just caution that you really have to commit to this. The biggest thing is to stay consistent and apply to things. You have to be hopeful that there will be something better and more fitting around the corner. Even if it doesn’t happen, you might have learned something along the way.
In the future, Stubbs hopes to go to law school with the goal of working in advocacy law for marginalized people. “I don’t want to work in federal government, but I still want to continue helping people—especially those who are underserved, underprivileged, or marginalized. That’s what I took from the experience.”