Saying that RJL has provided us with anything less than the best internship experience would be a crime. Under any other circumstances, waking up at 3:30 a.m. to catch a flight would be crazy. While daunting, we jumped at the opportunity to shadow Ryan, Director of Federal Relations at RJL, in Washington, D.C. Getting to walk in the footsteps of the delegates who make the decisions that impact us in our everyday lives was unforgettable. The atmosphere in and of itself was unforgettable. Washington is truly a melting pot with little tastes of the whole world. As we were headed to one of our meetings, we saw military officials from Colombia, businessmen from France and China, and ambassadors from the Middle East.

Moreover, being able to be a part of the process and begin to navigate and understand the inner workings of the private side of government advocacy was incredible. In meeting up with some of Ryan’s former coworkers from the Hill, it was encouraging to learn that people our age hold important positions in House and Senate committees, the U.S. State Department and at the White House. As we return to work in the Indianapolis office, we will use this trip as motivation to continue learning and growing as RJL interns so we, too, can one day contribute to the robust government affairs industry. Having this adventure under our belts has solidified our goals as well as our sedulousness.