Posted June 22, 2016 by
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Internship My Wheaton Campus Global and Experiential Learning
Wheaton in Washington
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” – President Barack Obama
Each one of us desires to do something meaningful with our lives, something that will make a difference. We see the brokenness in the world and wonder what we can do that will make terrible situations better. While the goal of the Wheaton in Washington program was not to give students all of the answers to life’s hard questions, it did show students different ways in which they could work towards change in the world through various careers.
The first two weeks of the program were spent in the classroom discussing topics of special concern, including the 2016 presidential election, the Syrian refugee crisis, mass incarceration, and religion in politics. During this time, we wrestled with the aforementioned topics and were forced to think more deeply about issues while hearing new perspectives from our fellow classmates. After our initial classroom sessions, we traveled to Washington D.C. to meet individuals who are actively involved in making a difference in social justice issues.
One of the most exciting parts of the program was during the first week in D.C. when we were given a tour of the Pentagon. Being inside the Pentagon and talking with Wheaton alumnus Peter Cairns who works there was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I will not soon forget our Pentagon visit as it reminded me that Wheaton students and alumni go on to do extraordinary things. I would encourage anyone who desires to work in politics, or simply see how change actually can come out of government, to participate in the Wheaton in Washington Program.
Overall, Wheaton in Washington was special to me because I am a rising junior who is constantly thinking about how to make my future career meaningful. This experience allowed me to see all the different areas in which I can work in politics, and more importantly, how working in any of these political jobs can help create small but positive changes in the world.
Kristen Hermes ’17 is a political science majorand participant in the 2016 Wheaton in Washington program. To learn more about the program, visit Wheaton in Washington website.
Photo Captions (from top): Wheaton in Washington participants Camila Moreno '19, Lauren Rowley '19, Laurel Nee '19, Amanda Wade '19, and Lydia Granger '19 enjoy a restful moment between meetings on the lawn of the Capitol building, photo credit Skyler Hein '19; Wheaton in Washington participants in front of the White House. Row 1 (l to r): Amanda Wade '19, Skyler Hein '19, Phil Kline '17, Madylin Reno '19, Emily Hillstrom '17, Lauren Rowley '19, Kristen Hermes '17, Emily Fromke '19, and Thea Boatwright '19. Row 2 (l to r): Laurel Nee '19, Gabriella Siefert '19, Lydia Granger '19, Will Lauderdale '19, David Criscione '18, and James Dingwall '18.