Looking Back

I can not believe I have spent the last three-and-a-half months living in Virginia and working in D.C. It seems like only yesterday when I called my roommate back home in a hurried voice full of worry, “Oh my God, should I take the Metro by myself? It’s getting dark! I want to get out of the apartment but no one is home and I’m afraid to take the Metro by myself. Should I? I don’t think I should. I think I should wait for someone to come home.” Missy, my roommate, calmly said, “Take it. You’re going to have to the entire semester by yourself.”

Three-and-a-half months later, I am (almost) an expert at riding the Metro and getting around D.C. I was so worried back in January about this Metro experience, and all it took was a few words from one of my best friends to encourage me to get out and learn. I am sure I would have done it without talking to her, but she definitely helped.

This experience has been an amazing one. While I did not get invited to huge dinner parties with big head executives, or attend think tank organizations, or even network extensively outside my building (The Child and Family Services Agency, “CFSA”), I had the best experience fitting to myself. I did not come to D.C. with expectations of going to political activities or lobbying movements; I merely came with an idea of what I might want to pursue on a personal level – expanding my basic knowledge about politics, discovering my options for the near future, and exploring D.C. while learning responsibility.

I now know more about politics than I ever imagined (and more of the Republican side since most of my friends here are Republicans). I could not get away from the politics in D.C., even if I tried. I read The Express every morning on the commute to work, and watched news channels whenever I got the chance. My roommates and I engaged in political discussions where I was able to get a part of the Democratic side.

For the future, I am planning on joining AmeriCorps after graduation, then pursuing my Masters in Social Work. I networked and met social workers in many different positions – a few in the Office of Youth Division, where the teenagers’ goals are Alternative Permanent Planned Living Arrangements; one in Child Protective Services, which is the intake and investigations arm of social workers; and one in In-Home Rehabilitation that works with out-of-home children with a goal of reunification. I also met a reentry advisor at my civic engagement, Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR). She helps ex-offenders find housing and employment. Even though I determined that I would like social work more than law, I also spoke with a Guardian ad litem who represents the child or teenager in the neglect or abuse case, and talked extensively with my attorneys (the assistant attorneys general, “AAG”) who represent the social workers and the CFSA. One of my AAGs began her career as a social worker, then attended law school and became an AAG. In fact, a good number of the AAGs began their careers as social workers or as Counsel for Child Abuse and Neglect (CCAN) attorneys. The CCAN attorneys provide counsel to any party in need of attorneys – such as children or the parents. From all of these experiences and talks, I know that I can now change my career – I do not have to be stuck in one position my whole life.

I visited almost everything and every place I planned on in D.C. Next weekend, the very last one in D.C., I plan to visit the Holocaust Museum. This is the one museum I really want to see before I leave. Other than this, I experienced a lot of the nightlife and the day life. We went to numerous clubs (which I have never really been to before this) and bars, as well as Happy Hours around the city. During the day, we explored the monuments and museums, as well as just walked around the District to get a feel for it.

My civic engagement also changed my views. As a criminal justice major, I know the realities and tragedies of ex-offenders who are not fully prepared to reenter society after prison. I helped clients at OAR work on employability and literacy skills. I spoke with them and felt a connection – we talked about anything and everything. I worked with a wide range of people, from ones with misdemeanor charges to felony charges. I even rode the Metro back with a few and had the chance to really talk to them more. Had I not known their backgrounds, I would have never expected them of anything criminal. They were the nicest, most eager people to learn. I am going to miss them once I leave.

My time here almost feels surreal, like an out of body experience. Would I have changed my placement if given a second chance? Probably not. I know I said I felt like I should have chosen the OAR, or that the work at the OAG was not challenging enough, but I am glad I stuck it out with OAG. I met new people, learned of new careers, and had a great time with the other interns as well as my attorneys.

Would I have changed my class knowing how hard it is now? Probably not. It was a very tough class, not having any knowledge in international relations or political science, but it was very enlightening. International humanitarian law is complex and intriguing, and I am glad that I had a professor who was very knowledgeable about the subject (His name is Max Hilaire – anyone should look him up if they would like to know more about him. He has given numerous speeches around the world on the subject. Here is a small article about him on the Embassy of the United States in Prague’s website, and Morgan State University’s biography.).

Would I have chosen new roommates and friends? Definitely not. While all of our experiences, backgrounds, and opinions differed, we learned from each other. I will come away from this with a new understanding of how to relate to people, and how to speak to them. I appreciate all their differing views on the world and our political system.

I have grown in so many ways that I never knew I could from this experience. Last spring when I was accepted, I assumed I was only going to come for a semester and learn what the child abuse and neglect law is like. I am going to come away from this with so much more than a simple understanding of the legal side of child abuse and neglect. I am so thankful to my university and my professors for allowing me to spend a semester in D.C. to learn and mature as a student, as well as a person.