USA: Lauren Edwards

November 6, 2023

Program: Wisconsin in Washington, Summer

Lauren’s Majors: Political Science and Legal Studies

What is your most memorable experience from your program?

My most memorable experience from my program was getting to work on the Hill. Being surrounded by so many interesting and accomplished people every single day was incredibly impactful for me. I was able to learn so many new things and get to see so many cool places. Particularly, going on late night tours with the Congressman I worked for was especially exciting. I got to see areas of the Capitol that the public never gets to, and even got to meet the speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy. Additionally, I was able to meet lots of other interns and staffers that are great connections to have in my network.

A woman stands in front of a door with the American flag on her one side and the Wisconsin and POW MIA flags on her other side. She is wearing business casual including black pants and a maroon blazer. — Here is a photo of me outside my office in the Longworth House Office Building. I worked for Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03).

How will your experience benefit you in the future?

I was very fortunate to secure an internship I greatly enjoyed. I was working for a Wisconsin Congressman, and I had formerly worked with our Communications Director in Wisconsin. It was helpful to go in having connections already and to be able to connect to the District I worked for. This was not the first time I have worked in politics/government, but this was the first time I had worked on the federal level. It was incredibly interesting and everything I worked on was very new to me, which kept my work exciting. After completing my internship, I would definitely consider returning to the Hill at some point or working for an organization in DC. But, I did confirm that I definitely do want to go to law school after graduating and then see where life takes me. So, my experience opened doors and new ideas, while also affirming some of my original plans.

What is your advice for someone considering your program?

For anyone considering participating in the Wisconsin in Washington program, my advice is apply as soon as you can! I cannot recommend this program enough. It was easily the best part of my college experience this far, and I will never forget it. Not only are you gaining valuable internship experience, but you are in the center of government, politics, consulting, and so many other fields. Not to mention the networking opportunities. DC is a small and large place at the same time and there are a lot of Badger alumni, all of whom are very willing to meet with you and share their connections. It is the perfect opportunity to explore a city with a plethora of job opportunities and to discover new areas that might be of interest to you.