After my work day is over, there's still another 16 hours available.
Though ten weeks seemed like a long time when I first began my internship in the nation's capital, the realization that summer will eventually end has started to creep into my consciousness.
My professional and academic success is a priority at The Washington Center. However, many of the most shaping experiences I have had in D.C. so far have occurred outside of my internship. Since each TWC intern works at an internship site for at least eight hours each weekday, I wanted to focus on how to best utilize the remaining sixteen hours in the day.
Take The Leap
The most important step to making the most out of the summer is to realize how much D.C. has to offer. There is literally something new and exciting happening in the city every day. Because of this, it is important to be open to all of the potential adventures waiting to happen. Get out of your comfort zone, put yourself out there to make new friends, and try new things that you ordinarily wouldn’t have the chance to at home.
Be Spontaneous
Though this picture of me in front of the New York City skyline seems like it must have taken some degree of planning, it might surprise you to hear that ten hours before this picture was taken, I had no idea I would be traveling to New York City!
Because D.C. is so close to so many exciting opportunities and places to visit, be ready to make the plan up as you go in order to experience it all. It doesn't take much effort to take a day trip to NYC, like I did, or to visit Philadelphia or Baltimore (all of which are accessible by train.) Or if you're looking for something a little less urban you can go and visit Virginia's many national parks that are just an hour or two outside of the city.
Sleep Later
There is so much to see and do here and, unfortunately, only so many hours in a day. It can sometimes be difficult to balance work, class, and a great time with the necessity of sleep. My suggestion? Don’t sleep.
Obviously you'll need to sleep enough to be productive at your internship and to stay awake during class but you have the rest of your life to sleep in or go to bed early; you only have ten weeks in D.C. This is the time to stay out late, wake up early, and drink lots of coffee because if you snooze, you’ll lose. My suggestion to you is to live this experience to the fullest.
About the Author
More Content by Ray Mosca
