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My time in Washington D.C. has been an extraordinary experience. I have gotten to see new sights, taste new food, and meet some very new and amazing people. During my time here, I have had the pleasure to bond with fellow students from the ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä system of schools, and together we have done and seen so much. From the monuments on the Mall, to the museums across the city, there is just so much to do and see. With my internship on Capitol Hill, I have seen and done even more.

Senators are common place in my daily routine, and I’ve even had the chance to speak to some of them. The tours of the Capitol building that I provide give me an almost daily chance to see the decades upon decades of history that lie within. On one of these very tours, I had to opportunity to meet Vice President Pence. Being face to face and shaking hands with one of the most recognized men in the country was a truly grand experience. But the Vice President is not the only person I have met. Both of Colorado’s Senators fall on this list as well, along with Ajit Pai and Condoleezza Rice. To meet a former secretary of state was truly a treat, especially since I went to see her speak at the National Book Fair on her latest book, Democracy: Stories From the Long Road to Freedom, a book which I happily purchased.

On life in the city, there is just so much occurring at once. I’ve been to almost every Smithsonian museum, and seen most of the districts. I went to a Wizards game and cheered on the home team. And our apartments are a block from the National Zoo, so I’ve frequently gone to say hello to the pandas. None of this would have been possible without the gracious scholarship provided by CWCTP. Coming out and participating in the goings on was something I had been dreaming of since high school, and college provided me the opportunity to do so. The truth of the matter is that this scholarship helped pave the way for a future I have wanted for a long time. I am beyond grateful for what has been provided and have no plans to squander the connections and experience that I have had. Thank you so much for this once in a lifetime experience. 

Christopher Garner, ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä in DC Internship Scholarship Recipient