Hi there! My name is Hannah Lyons-Cavazos and I’m a rising senior majoring in Political Science and International Development with minors in Spanish and management. I will be in DC this summer interning for my congresswoman from my home district in California, Jackie Speier. I’ve admired Congresswoman Speier since I first became interested in politics in high school, and I’m so excited to have a chance to work in her office. In addition to her years of service to California’s 14th district, Jackie Speier has long been a vocal advocate for women’s rights. She was named one of Newsweek’s “150 Fearless Women of the World in 2012” following her work on the STOP Act to prevent sexual violence in the military, and has been one of the premier crusaders in defending pro-choice legislation in the House. As a feminist who is interested in public policy and legislative proceedings, I’m so excited to have this internship this summer, and to be learning about constituent concerns in my own local community.
While the majority of the learning objectives I initially outlined have to do with developing professional skills and experience, my primary objective at this point in my internship is more personal. Although I visited DC on a class trip once in middle school, I have never been here otherwise. This past weekend I moved to a city where I don’t yet know anyone and have already gotten lost in Union Station (twice) and taken the Metro the wrong way. I want to use this internship as an opportunity to build independence, self-sufficiency and confidence as I work on navigating a new city, new job and new community of people. In preparing for my upcoming first day I’ve been taking public transit frequently to become accustomed to the Metro before taking it every day, and I have been taking advantage of the spare time I have now to explore the city that will be my home for the next few months.
In addition to these personal goals, I feel that this internship is going to give me the opportunity to develop as a professional woman in the political sphere, which historically has not been a particularly welcoming field for women and minorities. NCI’s purpose is to develop new generations of female leaders, and we have seen in recent times just how powerful increasing numbers of women in influential positions can be. Encouraging women to participate in the nation’s policy-making processes is a crucial tenant in this mission, and my goal is to one day be one of these women. I think that this position will offer me invaluable insights and opportunities for professional development that I would not be able to experience otherwise.
Congressional interns serve a variety of roles, but we primarily deal with addressing constituent concerns and issues. A lot of the work I do will center on constituent interactions, whether by fielding concerns via phone and email or conducting tours of the capital. This position will require not only a good deal of diplomacy but also confidence, and the ability to take initiative. As a female leader, I have often found this sort of assertive confidence to be a difficult trait to develop in myself, and have heard many other women complain of similar struggles. I am hoping the experience I gain in this position will help me to become the sort of empowered leader that NCI helps to cultivate.
I am very excited to be a part of the inner-workings of a political office, and am hoping that I will be able to observe and better comprehend how these sorts of offices operate. However, the highlight of this position is that I will be working with a team that serves a public official that has been a role model for me for years, and who has served my own community admirably throughout her career. I am looking forward to learning more about how the congresswoman is serving our home district’s constituent concerns, and how she fits into the larger national political conversation as well.