Washington, DC is unlike any city in the country. No city is steeped with so much history and simultaneously with so much dynamism, reminding us of the nation’s past as well as its future. Despite the 100 degree-plus temperatures in the summer, the streets are filled with an unidentifiable electric energy and vitality. A friend put it best when she said, “DC is a good place to be young in.”

Indeed, Washington D.C. is chock full of trendy restaurants, chic shops, crowded bars, and lively clubs. It is also home to some of the nation’s most famous monuments, statues, and museums. It’s a sprawling metropolis, much like San Francisco, except for the stifling humidity in the summer and a public transportation system that actually gets you to where you want to go (although ironically both the BART and the Metro were designed by the same people). Given all this, each summer thousands of interns flock to the nation’s capital to get a piece of the action. Last summer, I was among the throngs of excited college students that made the mass exodus to the nation’s capital.

The end of my sophomore year was marked with one last final in the can and an empty suitcase in the center of my room. Life in D.C. began at 5AM on a bright Sunday morning, following a red-eye flight and a sleep-deprived weekend — a perfect introduction to the summer. Nevertheless, the second I got to DC, the electric energy hit me, and I hit the ground running.

I participated in the summer internship program of the Organization of Chinese Americans’ (OCA), one of the largest nonprofit civil rights advocacy and education organizations for Asian Pacific Americans. I was placed in the External Partnerships and Advocacy Department of the National Education Association (NEA). Due to my interest in public education, I was responsible for a long-term research project regarding the creation of an Asian Pacific American information clearinghouse and its eventual institution into the U.S. History curriculum for K-12 public school classrooms. The purpose of this project would be to diversify the curriculum for K-12 public schools to reflect the histories and stories of its ever-more diverse student body. It no longer adequate just to learn about the Founding Fathers and not to recognize the contributions of people of color to the building of our nation.

Things unrelated to my immediate duties as an NEA intern also colored my internship program. In addition to the 24 Asian Pacific American students who were also OCA interns, I was fortunate to meet other Asian Pacific American interns who worked through other programs such as the Asian Pacific American Institute of Congressional Studies (APAICS), the National Asian Pacific Legal Consortium (NAPALC), and the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC). I attended various workshops and seminars regarding national Asian Pacific American issues. Every week, there was a brown bag luncheon held in one of the offices in the Capital where all of the interns from the different organizations sat down to presentations about current issues that affect our communities. We discussed hate crimes, the 20th anniversary of the death of Vincent Chin, coalition building with other minority groups, expanding educational curriculum to include minority groups, labor issues, and college activism. There were also weekly events hosted by the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL), which focused on career paths, goals, and leadership.

From press conferences and congressional visits to organizational meetings, the workday always moved in a blur from one place to the next. At the end of an exhausting day, interns know how to go out and let loose! Goodbye suits and polite demeanor, hello DC nightlife! Sharing a house with six fellow interns, we always found something to explore in the city. One of our favorite haunts was the club scene. Many clubs were accessible by Metro, and free or discounted before a certain time (small Intern budget=creativity). There were also happy hours and socials hosted by various colleges and universities. Rumor has it that there are more bars in DC than restaurants, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that were true. Aside from the attractions in the city, you can visit nearby cities on the East Coast such as Philadelphia, New York, and Boston on long weekends.

I have benefited tremendously from the experience from my experience in DC, and there are scores of reasons why I encourage other college students to participate in a summer internship in Washington, DC. During an internship in DC, you will gain valuable experience in a field that you may enter into after graduation. Whatever your interests, and wherever your passions lie, there is a place in Washington, DC to suit them. One of the great things about internships is that they are offered in a diverse array of professions and organizations, and they do not require previous experience. For example, if you are interested in medicine and healthcare, you can intern at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If you’re worried about national security, get the inside scoop by interning at the FBI or the National Security Administration (NSA). To explore your concerns about the current state of civil rights, you can investigate the work done by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If you want to contribute to the public education system, the NEA and Department of Education are in the political process itself, you can intern on the Hill at your congressperson’s national office. In addition to internships offered in government offices, you will also find a plethora of non-profit and for-profit organizations that have headquarters in the nation’s capital, including newsrooms, National Geographic Magazine, and the Smithsonian Institute. Whatever your interests, there will definitely be an organization that fits your niche. Learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom, and you’ll learn a great deal about the opportunities that the “real world” has to offer.

Besides the incredible experience and knowledge you gain from your job, you will also meet an extraordinary array of people—the nation’s current and future leaders. In ten short weeks, I was privileged enough to mingle with everyone from Congresswoman Patsy Mink (the pioneering Asian Pacific American Congresswoman, formerly representing Hawaii) to Justice Antonin Scalia of the Supreme Court (albeit by crashing a U Penn event). Likewise, some of the most awe-inspiring people that I met were my fellow interns, a group of the most ambitious, intelligent, and socially conscious college students in the nation. I formed enduring friendships and tight bonds with people who shared my vision and are making a difference in the world.

As a youth in this privileged station in society, you have every opportunity to join them for the experience of a lifetime. I am disappointed by the enduring stereotypes that Asian Pacific Americans are still foreigners and a silent minority. These stereotypes will remain in the American consciousness until Asian Pacific Americans demonstrate their savoir-faire and accomplishments in the political arena. Asian Pacific Americans should work to ameliorate recurring issues specific to their community and outside of it. I encourage everyone to get involved. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it best: “Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

For information on how to find a summer internship that suits your needs and interests, you can start by doing a web search — it’s fast, easy, and informative on the types of opportunities offered. Washington, DC is also home to seven universities, including Georgetown University, George Washington University, and Howard University; many of these schools host internship programs in specific academic disciplines and professional fields. In addition, you can look into programs offered by U.C. Berkeley, such as Cal in the Capital (a summer-long program) and UCDC (a semester-long program).