WASHINGTON, DC -- Since my freshman year of high school, I have wanted to intern in Washington, D.C. Policy and politics have fascinated me from an early age. When I made the decision to attend Mississippi State University, I chose to major in Political Science. By my second semester, I had decided it was time for a change. Despite the fact that I did not grow up on a farm and had very limited experience in agriculture, I changed my major to Agricultural Economics with a Policy and Law concentration.
I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the William A. Demmer Scholars Program, a natural resource policy program through the Boone and Crockett club that allows students to intern and take a policy course in Washington for a summer, and through the program I was placed at USA Rice.
This summer has changed my life. Everyone at USA Rice has been extremely helpful and willing to give advice. The Policy and Government Affairs team have kept me busy while simultaneously teaching me a great deal about agriculture policy, specifically within the rice industry. I have learned things through this internship that I would not learn in a classroom.
The team has taken me to several meetings, events, and receptions, many of which were on Capitol Hill. One of the first events that I went to was a fundraiser with both House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise in attendance. Being in the same room with two of the most powerful people in the city was a very surreal feeling that I will never forget.
The best part of my summer has been the people I have met. Whether through networking events and receptions or through the program, I have made friendships that will last a lifetime. The best piece of advice that I received up here was, “respect this city, and it will respect you back.” I feel that I have respected the city, and that it has most definitely respected me back. After finishing up my senior year at Mississippi State University in May of 2023, I hope to return to Washington, D.C., and work fulltime.
I would like to thank USA Rice for giving me the most enjoyable and life-changing summer I have ever had.