Before beginning the Thomas R. Wolanin Congressional Internship, federal policy felt like a system I had learned about throughout school but had difficulty imagining it in practice. Growing up in a rural, low-income community along the South Texas border, however, I understood its impact long before I understood how it was made.
I saw how federal programs could make a tangible difference for families when essential needs might otherwise go unmet. I also understood how important financial aid and college access programs were for students like me. Without financial aid and the guidance I received through TRIO Upward Bound and Student Support Services, I likely would not have had the same opportunity to pursue higher education.
Those experiences made policy personal to me.
As a Wolanin Intern placed in the office of U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, I had the opportunity to see policymaking from the inside. I attended congressional hearings, constituent and stakeholder meetings, and legislative sessions. I prepared memos and briefs, drafted communications, answered constituent calls, led Capitol tours, and researched legislation. I even had the opportunity to pitch legislation to the Senator for co-sponsorship and received her approval.
One experience early in my time in Washington especially stayed with me. During my first week with the Council for Opportunity in Education, I attended a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing focused on college costs and federal higher education policy. Sitting in the back of the hearing room, I listened as Members of Congress and witnesses debated student borrowing, college costs, institutional spending, and access to higher education.
As someone whose own educational journey depended on financial aid and college access programs, the discussion felt deeply personal. I found myself thinking about the many reasons students choose particular institutions and the financial realities facing students from lower- and middle-income families. It showed me how conversations in Washington can become policies that directly affect the choices available to students and families.
My background shaped the perspective I carried into those rooms. Raised by a single mother in a low-income border region, I knew firsthand how difficult navigating higher education can be without guidance. I was fortunate to receive support from Upward Bound and Student Support Services, but I also knew many students who had not been afforded those same opportunities. That awareness strengthened my commitment to expanding educational and professional opportunities for students from backgrounds like mine.
The internship also taught me that I belonged in these spaces. Senator Slotkin and her staff gave interns opportunities to participate meaningfully in the work of the office. We were encouraged to stay engaged during legislative discussions, and when my fellow interns and I researched and pitched legislation for potential co-sponsorship, the Senator celebrated our work and encouraged us.
Those moments mattered to me. As a young woman from my background, the Wolanin Internship allowed me to explore a professional environment I was not exposed to growing up and develop confidence in my ability to contribute.
Working with both COE and a congressional office also changed the way I understand advocacy. I saw how congressional staff receive information from advocacy organizations and how important clear data, persistent relationship-building, and personal stories are in making an issue resonate. Seeing TRIO professionals and students come to Capitol Hill to share how these programs affect their communities deepened my appreciation for COE’s work and showed me that advocacy is not a single meeting or message. It is an ongoing commitment.
The Wolanin Internship ultimately expanded my sense of what is possible for my future. The experience helped me build the skills, relationships, and confidence to continue working in public policy and opened the door to my next opportunity working with the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, where I hope to continue developing my knowledge of education policy and issues affecting TRIO students.
To any TRIO student or recent graduate considering applying, my advice is to allow your personality and your story to shine. Ask questions, build relationships, take advantage of opportunities to learn, and remember that your experiences are part of what makes your perspective valuable.
Most importantly, remember that you belong in the room.
The Wolanin Internship gave me the opportunity to discover that for myself. Now, I hope to continue advocating for the educational opportunities that made my own journey possible.
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