In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to share my top seven things to be thankful for in Washington, D.C. In the midst of the busy weekdays, we often go by our day in such a rush that we forget to stop for a moment, take a breath, and appreciate what we have.
So this thanksgiving, I am thankful for…
1. Fun Friends
Friends are our support system, especially when we are far away from family. Friends often share common experiences, excitement and stress, enthusiasm and exhaustion. In this exploration of the new world of D.C., friends make that journey a little more special.
2. Extensive education
D.C. offers a unique educational experience, supported by a range of experts in their respective fields. In the UCDC Center, we get to learn about lobbying, media, campaign, theater, and many more subjects straight from a former lobbyist, journalist, chief of staff, artist, and people who have first hand knowledge on the subject matter.
3. Fantastic food
Whether you’re looking for breakfast, brunch, lunch, coffee break, dinner, or desert, D.C. has the place for you! Ranging from food trucks, to fast food joints, to high end restaurants, D.C. always provides good food to satisfy your needs!
4. Supportive supervisors
Supervisors often become the biggest pressure in your work. But beyond the deadlines and the red marks, supervisors are helping me to grow. They want me to succeed and would happily provide support in order to do so. They are what make the internship worthwhile.
5. Stunning scenery
While D.C. is full of office buildings and structures, it is also only a few miles away from gorgeous scenery like Old Town Alexandria or Great Falls Park. On the weekend, going out of D.C. to enjoy nature is such a great way to refresh energy.
6. Amazing new acquaintances
You meet a lot of people in D.C., each with their own interesting trajectory of life. From meeting new people, I’ve learned a lot of life lessons that a university will never be able to teach.
7. Colorful Diversity
I had the opportunity to join the Pentagon’s Diwali event, the Hindu festival of lights, held by the Department of Defense last October and be a part of the culturally rich, spiritual, and energetic celebration. It was truly an amazing way to witness the diversity in D.C.
