My name is Olivia Ardito, and I received the funding this year. With Mr. Brown's support, I was able to move to Washington D.C. for the summer, buy a new wardrobe of formal clothing, and intern for Congressman Jim McGovern in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Through my high school in Boston, I was eligible to apply for the Stanley Miller Fellowship, which pairs fellows with a Massachusetts Congressional Member so they can work for Congress and learn what a job on the Hill looks like. I wanted to work for a congressperson in the U.S. House of Representatives in order to gain perspective on the realities of working for my federal government as well as see the realities of the federal government that I’ve learned about in college in real life. As a Political Science major, I know I want to work in politics, but I was unsure if working at the federal government would be right for me. However, with your aid, I am now confident that I would love to work for Congress again. I plan to intern for the House Rules Committee next summer and potentially apply for a permanent position there after graduation.
As an intern for Congressman McGovern, I had typical intern duties to perform, such as answering phone calls and organizing emails. However, I was able to do far more than I ever dreamt of. I watched countless votes happen on the House Floor, including one to begin impeachment hearings against President Biden. I also got trained in the history of the U.S. Capitol so I could give tours, and I got an exclusive tour of the top of the dome. I attended crucial briefings on potential new acts to inform the Congressman on how to vote. Finally, I helped constituents with issues such as renewing visas and fixing Social Security issues.
However, the moment of my internship that impacted me the most was when I joined Congressman McGovern in a meeting with a Canadian Parliamentary Delegation, including MP Sameer Zuberi of Montréal, to discuss human rights for the Uighur population. I was taken aback by the fact that I was able to witness the creation of international policy with both my native country’s government and the government of my college. It was a moment I will never forget. Beyond that, I met MP Zuberi afterward to network with him and discuss potential employee opportunities with the federal government of Canada. I never thought that at 20 years old, I would be able to participate in such crucial government affairs, let alone contribute to them, but because of the support from Mr. Brown's award I was.
Once again, I cannot thank him enough for his kindness and generosity in setting up the fund to honor his mother and support students like me to have unfathomable internship opportunities. Thank you to the Â鶹ԼÅÄ International Experience Awards founders, and Mr. Brown for making this experience possible.
