USA: Cassidy Pamperin (“We’re Not in Madison Anymore” Moment)

It hit me during my third week in D.C., somewhere between trying to find my coffee spot and dodging a tour group near the National Archives. I paused to cross the street and realized I was standing in front of the Department of Justice. The actual DOJ! Not a replica in a textbook or a set from a political drama. That’s when it clicked: I’m not in Madison anymore.

Back home in Wisconsin, I was used to seeing the state Capitol building almost daily. It’s beautiful, sure, but it felt familiar, almost background noise. In Washington, everything feels amplified. These buildings aren’t just symbolic, they’re where history has, and continues to unfold. I can walk past the White House on a casual Saturday. I’ve brushed shoulders with suited-up professionals who might’ve just left a Supreme Court hearing. Even my daily commute feels like a history field trip.

What surprised me most, though, wasn’t just being surrounded by institutions of influence, it was how accessible it all felt. I expected a sense of distance or formality, but instead, I’ve found public spaces designed for people to engage, protest, or simply sit and reflect. It’s a different kind of civic energy.

Living here reminds me daily that history isn’t just something we study, it’s something we walk through, woven into our communities, conversations, and coffee runs.

Cassidy Pamperin

Hometown: Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Major: Political Science; Economics

Program: Wisconsin in Washington DC, Internship Program

I chose the Wisconsin in Washington program because of the access it gives me to high value experience, but also allowing me to explore a very important part of our country that I have not seen before.