First thing: I must say I had an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING supervisor this summer. Yes, this woman is “Caps Lock” worthy. She made it possible for me to do  so many things this summer and I am incredibly thankful for her awareness of the intellectual and social needs of an intern far away from home. Thank you Kelly!

As summer draws to an end and my internship wraps up, it is safe to say I had a great experience at the National Archives. The opportunities and experiences of this summer created a well-rounded internship; one that had many lessons both on and off the job. My internship was enlightening in many ways, from understanding the realities of working in federal government to appreciating the ability to buy milk in gallon jugs again. (A quick explanation: I am from the upper Midwest and consume milk like some people drink pop. (That’s “soda” or “Coke” to you Southerners.) It was challenging to maintain my high level of milk consumption when my primary methods of transportation were walking or cycling.)

If I sound cynical, let me assure you I genuinely appreciated the “boring,” “mundane,” or “bureaucratic” aspects of my internship. Why? Well, as exciting as attending conferences, meeting government celebrities, and winning work fun runs are, I’m pragmatic enough to recognize 99.98% of any government job is nothing like this. Yes, it made for a fun summer, but I have no illusions about what working in the federal government is genuinely like; even for the GSA. (oooh…cheap shot.)  Again, this is a good thing; I did not decide to get my MPA degree because I expect a glamorous job with perks. I am seeking a career in the public sector because I find personal value and intrinsic rewards in public service.