Life Lessons

This will probably be my final DC post :( This summer has hands down been the best summer of my life! I've met incredible people, had amazing experiences, and made memories that will last a lifetime. Here are some lessons I learned during my first summer living on my own:

1. Network, Network, Network: This skill is not to be underestimated. Networking is huge here, and probably everywhere. Personally, I'm not the strongest at networking. I think you can easily come across as being fake, and I hate that. I've met my fair share of people this summer that are OBSESSED with networking and I really want to punch them in the face. People see through you. You don't need a connection for everything. Relax. This summer I've "networked" successfully on multiple occasions with all sorts of people. If you think about it like making new friends, it's a lot easier than when you focus on impressing future employers. There's a lot of really awesome people out there, you just need to open your eyes. Just be real about it.

2. If you want something, ask for it: I went on a White House tour, met the CFO, and recieved awesome recommendations because I wasn't afraid to open my mouth and ask for it. People are generally pretty nice and willing to help. You just have to put yourself out there and let people know what you want.

3. Don't send mass e-mails: These things are really annoying. I was asked to send a few, and I cringed. No one wants to read these stupid messages that are sent to the entire office unless they're life-changing (which is usually not the case). This also relates to the reply-all function. Don't do it- it can lead to an e-mail "storm" and a freeze of the entire system, no bueno.

4. Don't be a b*#ch: Self-explanatory. I was told a story about a woman who constantly disrespected people. Eventually, she had a job interview with the very person that she previously treated like crap. Needless to say, she didn't get the job. You really never know who you might come in contact with again. At least be nice about it.

5. Spontaneity is the spice of life: I was spontaneous this summer on multiple levels. I moved away from my friends and family across the country to a city where I knew no one. It was epic! I mentioned this before, but I never would have done this a few years ago. I'm still the kind of person that likes to plan everything. Sometimes the most interesting things in life are unplanned. I'll never forget my all-nighter, monuments at sunrise, random happy hours, and late nights with friends. Everyone needs to let loose once in awhile.

6. Be friendly but not too friendly: High school never ends. AKA there's always drama and it doesn't end in the working world. Everyone knows everyone's business. Be on a "need to know basis," unless you want everyone to know every detail of your personal life.

7. Be flexible: My office is super ambiguous. Half the time I had no idea what was expected of me but I ran with it. A lot of places are like that, and you have to go with the flow. As a very type-A person, I struggled with this a lot at first. Adaptability is key. There's always the go-getter, slacker, scatter-brain, sweetheart, player, nerd, b*tch, clown, and bully. How will you fit in to the dynamic?

8. Dress the part: Ok, here's what's up ladies and gents. Stop dressing like sluts and gangstas. Seriously. I mentioned this before in my TIM entry. Going out attire does not equal work attire. To my sisters, clothes that may fly in chapter don't work in the working world. Let me explain... In my experience, I was often the only female in the room. Men don't take women seriously if they're dressed like they are going out on the town. My skirts were usually an inch or two above the knee and I felt uncomfortable at times. Do you want colleagues to like you for your work or your body? Come on now. This goes for guys as well. Sneakers don't work with dress pants, tuck in your shirt, and wear clothes that fit. I saw a guy with a Toy Story backpack today. Funny, yes. Professional, no. If you want to act the part, look the part.

9. Don't talk sh*t: I can't even begin to tell you how many times I was talking about someone to have them show up behind me. The walls have ears. Even if you think you're safe, chances are someone around knows the person you're trash talking. No matter how annoying someone is, keep it to yourself. Maybe they'll be your boss someday....

10: Have FUN: I've had a blast this summer!! Even with the 40 hour work weeks (unpaid=slavery), I've still managed to learn a lot while enjoying every minute of it. In the words of Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and take a look around once in awhile, you could miss it."

DC really has a special place in my heart, and hopefully, I'll make it back here someday. Thanks to everyone who made the past 10 weeks remarkable!!! <3

Still my favorite building :)

A Summer to Remember

In honor of my last week in Washington, here is a list of all of the awesome things I got to experience in this city:

1. White House tour: This was by far my favorite tour. It was self-guided, but just walking through a house with so much history was amazing. There's the Kennedy portrait, famous red-carpeted hallway, ballroom, etc. A truly awe-inspiring building. Being mistaken for White House employees was also a plus :)
2. Supreme Court session: I really enjoyed witnessing this! We got to sit in the courtroom while the Supreme Court justices read their opinions on groundbreaking cases. Several of these instantly made news (one striking down an AZ Clean Elections law, and another one that involved minors' rights to purchase violent video games). Since I will be reading opinions similar to these in law school, this experience was especially memorable. This time, someone thought I was a member of the Supreme Court Bar. Maybe someday...
3. Capitol tour: Not as cool as I thought it would be, but still nice to see. The Rotunda and Capitol dome are really pretty. I tried to sit in a session of the House of Reps and Senate but the times didn't work out. I still have Senate passes though which don't expire, so maybe some other time. This is still my favorite building in Washington though. Maybe because I still have this crazy dream to be a Senator/Rep eventually.

*I definitely saw all three branches of government- score!*

4. Newseum: Such a great thing to see. They feature artifacts from major news stories throughout the ages. It made me want to be a journalist. A definite must see here in DC despite the $20 cost. I spent 5 hours in here and my roommate spent 7. There's lots to see.
5. Holocaust Museum: A very sad and moving experience. I still remember the smell of the victims shoes that were on exhibit. It puts a lot in perspective. I can't even imagine what it's like to visit the camps themselves.
6. Smithsonian Museums: I went to the Museum of American History and the Air and Space Museum. I really liked the American History one because they had awesome things on display- Abe Lincoln's hat, inaugural dresses of every previous First Lady, Dorothy's slippers, George Washington's uniform, and so much more. The Smithsonian Castle is also very pretty but I haven't gone inside.
7. Lincoln Memorial: This is my favorite memorial in DC. It overlooks the reflecting pool, Washington Monument, and Capitol building. The reflecting pool is drained right now which is depressing but it's still a great view of the National Mall. A ton of historical events have taken place on those steps. It's also a beautiful place to watch the sunrise, which I got to do with a very special person :)
8. Jefferson Memorial: This is also a beautiful structure that sits right on the Tidal Basin. You can walk right along the water and look right at the Washington Monument. I watched fireworks here on the 4th, and they were the best fireworks I've ever seen (mainly because of the scenery bc the fireworks show didn't last that long).
9. Vietnam Wall: This is a powerful memorial. Some people bring pencils and paper to shade over the names of loved ones. There are so many names. I'm glad I got to see it.
10. WWII Memorial: Also cool to see. They have little pillars for each state and a big fountain inside. It's right near the Washington Monument.
11. Korean War Memorial: Very eerie to see at night. The faces on the wall almost seem to be looking right at you and the statues of soldiers look real.
12. FDR Memorial: Nice waterfalls, and memorable quotes from FDR's presidency. A nice stop on the way to Jefferson Memorial.
13. Pentagon Memorial: Unique architecture and special meanings at this memorial. The Pentagon is huge, and I still would like a tour of the inside. I can't imagine what it was like on 9/11. I still can't believe a co-worker was in the building when the plane hit.
14. Arlington Cemetary: I went here on Memorial Day weekend. The tombstones are all white and in very neat rows going for acres. The Changing of the Guard was great to see. It helped me to understand the sacrifice that is made every day for our country, and the true heroism of each and every member of our armed forces.
15. Georgetown: One of my favorite areas of Washington! M Street has amazing bars, restaurants, and shopping. There is a beautiful waterfront, cobblestone streets, and adorable townhomes. The actual Georgetown campus is incredible. I really wish I went there for undergrad. It felt like Hogwarts! No joke. This was also the site of many memorable late nights, especially at Rhino bar. Oh man... haha
16. Dupont Circle: This is a very trendy area of Washington. My first week here, I was treated to a bottle of wine and scallops at a restaurant here. After that, I've checked out the area several times for happy hours and bar nights. The Front Page is one of my favorite hotspots.
17. National Cathedral: This cathedral is enormous, and I would love to get married here. It is located outside of the city in the suburbs. Large stained glass windows, a huge altar, the usual.
18. National Archives: The home of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights. I saw First Lady Laura Bush speak here. Very cool.
19. Kennedy Center: Free shows at 6pm nightly.
20. Walking Tour: I went on this interesting walking tour at night that detailed Lincoln's Assassination. It went to all of the main places (White House, Fords Theater, etc). The tour guides are usually amazing storytellers. I literally thought I was walking through Washington back in the 19th Century.
21. Susan Rice: She is the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. She made a speech to about 50 of us at work. I got to meet her. A very powerful woman.
22. Secretary Hillary Clinton: I get to see her speak this week. Excited!
23. Congressional Office Buildings: I love walking around these offices because you never know who you might run into. I even passed out resumes a few weeks ago. Headed up to "the Hill" again this week for a briefing.
24. Washington Monument: You can see this from most places around the city. I still haven't gone to the top, but it's pretty much one of the symbols that represents Washington.
25. Jazz in the Park: This is every Friday night at the Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Art. Such a great way to relax after the workweek if the weather is nice. They sell Sangria by the pitcher and it's very chill. I've been twice.

And there you have it. The best summer of my life is drawing to a close. Someday I'll come back here, it's guaranteed. I've learned so many things about life this summer, but that will be for another blog entry.

The beautiful sunrise over my favorite city <3

Let's Hear it for New York

Last weekend, I took a bus up to Penn Station in NYC to visit Dana. Word of wisdom: Never ever take the bus between DC and NYC. I know it's cheap but a train would have been much more convenient. A "4 hour" bus ride quickly became 6.5 hours. But I finally made it! I was dropped off in the middle of New York City with a huge red suitcase and backpack that screamed "tourist." You can only imagine what it was like dragging that through the city....

New York City is a really fun place. It's very fast-paced, and it makes DC seem slow in comparison (shocking since DC is crazy to me). I could never live there but it would be fun to spend a summer there. So many buildings, so many taxis, so many people. We went to Times Square, the top of Rockefeller Center to see the skyline, 5th avenue, the awesome Whole Foods in Columbus Circle, Central Park, Chinatown, Little Italy, and Ground Zero. It was a ton to see all in one day. Times Square was great with billboards everywhere, and people walking around in crazy outfits promoting shows:

It was expensive to go to the "Top of the Rock" but it was worth it! The NY skyline is beautiful!

5th Avenue has amazing shopping. This store Bendels has the cutest stuff. Too bad I'm not filthy rich to afford the things in these stores (unpaid intern life). We went to Whole Foods which was a pretty exciting experience for me haha. I've actually never been to the Whole Foods back home or even in DC. The one in NY is supposed to top them all though. They have a ton of food that you can buy and eat right in the store, like a little buffet, pizza, sandwiches, etc. And it's all really good and relatively cheap (for NY standards at least).

 

Next was Central Park, my favorite. It's so beautiful there, and GREEN. As an AZ native, I'm accustomed to a lot of brown. That's not the case in Central Park. The weather was great and we walked around and explored. We came across the boathouse and saw people rowing out on this little lake/pond. It was only $12 for an hour- sweet deal! Next step=rowing in Central Park. Well Dana did the rowing, I did the sitting. But... it was awesome!

So green!

WE'RE ON A BOAT!       

Chinatown and Little Italy are interesting. I was a little overwhelmed at first. It felt like Mexico a little bit with people trying to sell you stuff. I did buy a few cheap souvenirs though. The Subway system is not my favorite thing in the world to put it nicely. The DC Metro is like paradise compared to it, and that's not saying much. The first subway trip was so packed I could barely move. The subway stations aren't air-conditioned like metro stations are. And it feels 10 times hotter because you're underground and all the heat is trapped in like a volcano waiting to erupt. We got on and off the train a bunch of times because the trains weren't going downtown so we had to come up to go back down again. So inefficient. In fact, we even ended up in Brooklyn ("That's the brooklyn bridge." "Oh, you're right- that's cool I've never been there." "Well we're going there now." "Wait what, shit!") . Welcome to the NYC subway system....

We finally made it to the Ground Zero site. It was a lot different than the first time I went back in 2003. Back then, they still had the catwalk set up so you could literally walk over the site, and all these pictures/flyers were posted looking for missing people. Heartbreaking. Now, there is a preview site located in a small building down the street. It depicts the memorial building process, and the events of 9/11. The memorial looks like it will be amazing- 2 reflecting pools where the towers used to be, and a museum dedicated to the events of the day. It's supposed to open in a couple months on the 10th anniversary. Wow 10 years already? You see kids at the preview site that weren't even alive when it happened. I guess that's why they call us the 9/11 generation. There's an eerie mood to the place, even 10 years later. It's almost as if people are afraid to smile/laugh when close to a place that suffered so much destruction. Moving experience.

                                    

      Ground Zero construction- lots of progress

On Sunday, we hung around New Jersey in this town called Hoboken. Alright, let me clarify something: Jersey isn't as bad as everyone makes it seem. The trashy Jersey Shore kids give it a bad rep. Sure, Newark is industrial and not that attractive. But there are some really nice places. Hoboken is one of them- not NYC, but very close. It's right across the water with a beautiful view of the skyline. There are really cute shops and restaurants, and it has a small town feel while still being super close to one of the world's biggest cities. I liked it there.

Hoboken

My trip wasn't long enough. I would have loved to have seen the Statue of Liberty, gone to a Broadway show, and seen other big things. We still did a ton in the time we had though. Thankfully, the bus ride back was more timely. It turns out, the fun didn't even stop when my trip ended but followed me home. That's for another blog though.... :)

Week 7

I only have 3 weeks left in DC :( I'm so sad about it. This summer is seriously the best! I should be reading my law school advice books but I'm blogging instead (sorry dad). I am not prepared to go back to AZ, and hit the books hardcore. Until then, it's time to live it up, and I plan to do just that!

Friday night was one for the record books. I felt like I was starring in a real world version of The Hangover, except we didn't lose anyone or piss off Ken Jeong. What happens in DC, stays in DC. Sequins.

I went to the Nationals game on Saturday night which was a lot of fun. I was so excited to be in my first outdoor ballpark! I guess I was a bit spoiled with the retractable roof in AZ with the AC. It was super hot and we had nosebleed seats, but still had a great time. Today I caught up on sleep after Friday shenanigans and watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1. Love Harry Potter.

My last midnight HP premiere is on Thursday/Friday :( I can't wait but I wish I could see it with my usual crew! I'm going to NYC and NJ next weekend to visit Dana and see the city. I can't wait! I haven't been there since 8th grade. I'm taking a bus (4 hours) up there. Hopefully there aren't any creepers on the bus ride since I will be riding solo....

Tomorrow I'm going on a Capitol Tour and I have gallery passes to sit in on sessions in both the House and Senate. I'm almost more excited for this than I was for the White House tour. Congress is my thing. I walked around the office buildings last week and passed out my resume. Networking, networking, networking.

So, in conclusion:

1. I'm not ready to go home to AZ. Why can't all my family/friends move here??
2. I'm in love. With DC. <3
3. I'm ready to geek out at the Capitol tomorrow.
4. Last Friday Night by Katy Perry. New fave song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlyXNRrsk4A

Fin.

AMERICA

I just spent about an hour crafting this beautiful long post and my internet connection failed and I lost ALL of it. So instead of writing it all out again, here are some words that describe the weekend:

Friends. Reunion. Pictures. Happy. Party. Georgetown. Dupont. VIP. Hot. Broken purse. Dancing. Raging. Free drinks. New friends. 3am.  Krispy Kreme. Mayflower Hotel. Happy hour. Sweat. Humidity. Rain. Thunder. Lightning. Metro. Taxi. A debate about why accounting is a good major. White shirts. White House. Lincoln Monument. Washington Memorial. Vietnam Memorial. Capitol. Sculpture Garden. Pond. Duck. "SIT". Getting heads stuck in DC's secret garden. Folk Festival. Sunburn. Mosquito bite. Sleep deprivation. Pentagon. DC cupcakes. Georgetown classroom. Redbull. Mojitos. Vodka. Rum. Fireworks. Parade. Walking. Potbellies. Serendepity. Frozen hot chocolate. 6am bedtimes. Starbucks. Preps. Townhouses. Cobblestone streets. Potomac river. Jefferson Memorial. Weird fashion show at bar. Potential strippers from fashion show. Bongos. Laughs. Sleeping bags. Love. Fun.

I'm slightly dying this week at work still recovering from the awesomeness that was my weekend. The end.

City of Dreams

Corny title? Yes. But it's true! There's so much opportunity in this city it's ridiculous. Everyone that I meet seems to have a connection somewhere. If you are open about what you want in a career, people will usually help you out to get it. I have a meeting tomorrow that may have the potential to make or break a future career. It's not a formal interview or anything, but if you royally screw up in front of one of the managing partners you're finished. I'm nervous...

I sat in on a session of the Supreme Court today! One of the coolest experiences! The sessions are open to the public, and I highly recommend everyone to attend sometime in your lives, especially if you're into law. Sadly, this was the last session until October but they pick up again then. I woke up at the crack of dawn to go stand in line at 7am outside the building. Thank goodness it was a pretty morning and the weather was nice. They let us in around 9 and we entered the courtroom after storing all of our belongings in lockers (no pictures). This courtroom is one of the most gorgeous rooms I've ever seen. It was all white marble with long red velvet curtains and a huge frieze along the perimeter with all of these figures. The ceiling was 44 feet tall (I remember from the lecture haha). Our seats weren't great since they make the general public sit along the outside of the courtroom between these huge pillars. Luckily, I was in a row near the front, so I could still see everything.

 It was a non-argument day so the Court only read opinions. Two of the first opinions concerned personal jurisdiction and went over my head, but I'm positive I'll learn about it in law school. The third opinion struck down a California law that prohibited the sale of violent video games to minors arguing that it violated the First Amendment (aka violence is not obscene and is therefore still a protected form of speech). The other case dealt with an Arizona clean elections law that permitted public financing to match funds in campaigns. The Court also struck down that law as unconstitutional, arguing that it restricted political speech of candidates who raised funds privately. Interesting stuff! I can't wait for a law professor to ask about my summer: "well sir/ma'am, I attended a session of the Supreme Court where they verbally gave the opinions that we're reading about in these casebooks." NBD.

The funniest thing was being mistaken for a member of the Supreme Court Bar (aka an attorney who can argue in front of the Supreme Court). First of all, I'm not even a law student yet until August. Second of all, this is a coveted position among attorneys and not many can practice in front of the Court. I tried to use the restroom and this guy was like "why are you using the public restrooms? The private lounge for members of our Bar is this way with private bathrooms." Haha I played along. It was great. Thank you professional attire.

I can't believe I saw the Justices up close. Most are getting pretty dang old but the Chief Justice is relatively young. This select group of 9 people interpret the law of the land. Wow. Law student geek moment- I think so. I can't get over all of the cool stuff I see out here.

I miss...

This post is different than all of the others. Instead of raving about how great DC is (which it is!), this is dedicated to all of my friends/family across the country who I miss sooo much! Consider this a shout out with photos.

1. ADPi: Omg I never realized how much I would miss it. It will be even harder in the fall when I'm back in Tucson, but not living in that house. I went from having 50+ roommates to one roommate. I miss always having someone around to do something with- watching movies, dinner, partying etc. There is NONE of that here. No one I meet seems to want to see the nightlife/let loose with me. I've been here for 5 weeks and I've been out to the bars once. Pathetic, yes. Where are my ADPis at to have fun with? I went from going out 2-3 times a week to never. Talk about a culture shock! And it's not just the nightlife, it's the bonding and always having sisters around. It's REALLY lonely in a brand new city. Sure, there's tons to do and things to see that get my mind off my lack of a solid group of friends, but it's always in the back of my mind. I miss you ladies!

Classy ADPi Seniors <3

Love the personalities in this photo

Bid Day seems like so long ago

2. Fourth Ave Crew: You all are my best friends and I miss our crazy shenanigans! All the times at zv, Bens, Kon Tiki, Champs, 4th Ave (always drama free of course), Taco Shop, Congress, date dashes, etc. Here are some of my fave pics from senior year of this crew.

Halloween 2010

Homecoming 2010

Clubcrawl

80s Prom Date Dash

The Camping Adventure of 2010

Superheroes Date Dash

Senior Awards

The last outing :(

Wildcats for Life

3. Family: I am a homebody at heart, and being 3000 miles away from my family is hard.

My mom and I have a "Gilmore Girls" style relationship

My papa, me and my mom

Me and the 'rents

4. Dogs: I have 2 dogs back home- Ty and Bo (taebo/bowtie- get it?). They are getting really old, 11 and 12 years old. I miss them every day. Here are some pics of my lovable mutts.

Bo



5. My car: Public transit is a royal pain in the ass. It's convenient, but when it takes me 40 minutes to get to a Target and I have to lug all of my crap on the crowded metro, it's ridiculous. I miss the days of hopping in my car and driving 10 min max to the store. It's also a plus not to sit in a sticky seat and grab on to the nasty disease-infected handles.

Even though this city is wonderful, I still miss Arizona. I'll be back in 5 weeks.