UConn sophomore Riley Hasson is currently interning under Connecticut Senator Blumenthal’s office in Washington, D.C. We asked her a few questions about her experiences:
Name: Riley Hasson
Major: Political Science
Minor: English
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Cheshire, CT
UConn activities: Club Basketball, Husky Ambassadors
Can you briefly describe the internship and what you do while in DC?
We do everything that is asked of us. We sort a lot of mail, run errands, go to different offices to get signatures, deliver mail, answer phones, work on projects the legislative correspondents give us, etc.
What was the application process like?
It was a really intense application process. Apparently a lot of people applied, and we were all competing for 8 spots. There were extra essays, interviews, more recommendations.
What is the most fun or coolest thing about your time in DC so far?
The best part is hard to pick. Living on my own and being a real life person is really cool, my housemates are all great. My fellow interns in the office are quickly becoming great friends. Living on Capitol Hill is incredible as well. I get to see the monuments everyday. Also having access to the underground tunnels and trolleys in-between office buildings, the capitol, and the library of congress is really cool .
How does this internship relate to your future career plans?
I think that I want to be a staffer in a congressional office on capitol hill so it is basically getting my foot in the door for that and making important connections for my career down the line.
What advice would you give to students interested in similar opportunities?
I would say plan in advance so you aren’t worried about missing important classes. I would say start the application early because it takes thought and time. And go for it! you can apply several times, and it is totally worth it. I already love every minute of it and am sad to leave.