Friday, May 1, 2009

Alex's 100 Days

My first day at my internship at NBC News Channel was January 12, and my last day was April 29 - President Obama's 100th day in office.

I think it's interesting that I left News Channel on his 100th day. As a quick disclaimer, I volunteered for the campaign for 11 months, and I am an incredibly loyal supporter of the President.

I think it's inappropriate for me to do a fancy analogy comparing my internship and my experiences in D.C. to President Obama's presidency.... So I won't do it!

BUT I learned a lot at my internship. I learned personal things about myself. I learned to work with people in an office. I began practicing correct respect for elected officials and people with titles (Senator Brown, Congressman Space, Justice Kennedy, Secretary Clinton). I learned how to research the U.S. Government. I watched congressional hearings. I went to a congressional hearing. I went to the Supreme Court. I went in the White House Press Briefing room - TWICE.

Speaking of that, both times I went, President Obama had been out of town at Town Hall meetings. On February 9th, the President was in Elkhart, Indiana which has the highest unemployment rate in the country. On Wednesday, he traveled to St. Louis, Missouri. Both times, I was at the White House when Marine One landed in the South Lawn of the White House. When Marine One lands in the backyard, reporters and photographers are allowed to go back there. Each administration is different, and for the Obama White House, people have to wait by a door to be let in the backyard.

Both times, I got to the door late and was not allowed back to see President Obama walk out of the helicopter and into the Oval Office. Also, both times, I forgot to bring my camera. I know that this was, unfortunately, meant to be. I feel that it happened for a reason.

I feel like everything that happened here happened for a reason, and I don't regret anything. I am SO GLAD that I came to D.C. I can't believe everything that I did, that I saw, that I witnessed, that I heard... Incredible!