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By Leanna Schuler, Justice and Legal Thought College Park Scholar
My role in the system is to make sure that every American gets to voice their concerns and that our government is actually listening and reacting to those concerns. This matters because without a government that is willing to listen to the voices of its people, democracy crumbles.
My internship with Congressman Hoyer is an important part of the mission our House of Representatives was founded on, which is to give the people of America a voice in government. Congressman Hoyer’s system in which he allows for the voices of Americans to be heard is to have interns accept phone calls to then document and forward to higher-ups when necessary. It is important for me to really listen to what the American people have to say and to document in detail both their issues with federal agencies that we can resolve and their more general qualms with our government. As an intern for the Majority Leader in the House, I have increased responsibility because Congressman Hoyer has to not only be able to represent the voices of those within the districts he represents, but also the combined voices of all Americans. It is important to ensure that the House continues to be the means in which the American people can feel close to the government. My role in the system is to make sure that every American gets to voice their concerns and that our government is actually listening and reacting to those concerns. This matters because without a government that is willing to listen to the voices of its people, democracy crumbles. The United States claim to greatness is that its people get to choose how the country is run, and without interns like myself, the government might not be as strong of a reflection of the goals of our society as it should be.
Hey Leanna! I was drawn to your poster because of the awesome design. I loved reading about what you got to do as an intern for a congressperson. I had no idea you got to talk to so many constituents and even non-constituents as an intern! What was your favorite part of the job?
Hey Leanna,
I was drawn to your poster because it seemed cool to have an internship with a Congressman and wanted to know how that experience was. I learned that person's opinion is being heard and recorded by our congressman and by our government and not just being ignored. My question is how often did you receive any prank or fake calls when documenting?
Hi Leanna! Your poster stood out to me because government and politics is one of my majors, so I'm definitely interested in hearing about what it's like to work in a congressional internship. This seemed like a great opportunity! I didn't know that all constituent calls are documented and filed because there's a misconception out there that our representatives don't listen to us. Were there any calls that were particularly impactful for you?
Hi, the first thing that caught my eye was the Maryland Flag in the background because I can relate more to the area where this is taking place. That's awesome that you learned so much from taking this internship including having to take calls from constituents that the congressman represented. Did it take a while to get adjusted and learn your role at this internship?
Hey Leanna, your poster caught my eye because interning for a Congressman seems like such an amazing opportunity. It is awesome that you were able to have this experience and were able to learn everything that you did. Were you able to gain any valuable connections as a result of this internship?