With the 2014 legislature officially in session, Capitol Hill is starting to heat up and sophomore Caroline Crow has a front row seat to the action. Starting this semester, Caroline began interning at the State Capitol while managing to balance her classes and a heavy extracurricular load. Luckily I was able to track her down and talk to her about her semester being a Legislative Intern for Senator Thad Altman.
Year: Sophomore
Major: English and political science
Favorite Place on Campus: Stadium
Extracurricular Activities: I’m a Light the Night Executive Recruitment Chair, Relay for Life Hospitality Chair, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Legislative Intern for Florida Senator Thad Altman.
Her Campus (HC): Your internship gives you the opportunity to work within the State Capitol. What is it like interning for somebody in politics?
Caroline Crow (CC): Working for someone in politics is like nothing I’ve done before. Senator Altman is a truly inspirational individual who is constantly giving his time and energy to the people who call on him.
HC: Out of all the things that have occurred in your office, what has been the most memorable thing to happen so far?
CC: Working for him is exciting every day. Each day I get to meet people who are all trying to do their own part to make the world a better place. Also there is never a dull moment in the office. One day there are tanks and special ops scaling a building and the next David Beckham is walking the halls. Despite all those exciting moments, perhaps the most memorable moment so far was when Rick, the Senator’s Legislative Aide, took us down to the Senate Floor for the first time and I was able to walk to a special spot in the center of the room from which your voice echoes back at you and makes it sound as if your voice is amplified.
HC: Can you share with the Her Campus audience the most useful thing you have learned working there?
CC: The most useful thing I have learned is to take the time to get to know people and learn about their lives. Don’t be afraid to get to know people for more than just their name and job. You will work with these people every day and everybody appreciates when you try to get to know them. Whether somebody works in printing, security, or is an intern, being nice will always win you friends.
HC: How do you plan on using this experience and applying it to your future?
CC: With this internship I want to gain the experience I need to one day help and serve my friends, family, and neighbors back home. Through this internship, I have gained many skills that I hope to be able to apply to another internship with Representative Bill Posey (a U.S. House of Representatives representative from my district).
HC: What’s the motto you live by?
CC: “The Future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” by Eleanor Roosevelt.