"Prepared & Confident:" Kayla Zhang's Takeaways from Capitol Hill

As a junior, Madeira students have the unique experience of interning on Capitol Hill in a Congressional office or advocacy organization. They learn how our government operates and how to effect real change. The experience culminates with the students formulating a legislative proposal that incorporates field research about a policy issue that is of personal importance. These are skills that only on-the-job training can teach. These valuable takeaways are quite apparent in the following post-internship interview with junior Kayla Zhang.

Please briefly introduce yourself.

KZ: Hi! I am Kayla Zhang from the Class of 2026. I am a junior boarder from Nanjing, China; I play soccer in the fall and softball in spring.

What have your Co-Curriculum experiences been so far? Have any of the internships stood out to you? If so, why?

KZ: For my Co-Curriculum experiences I went to Garfield Elementary School my sophomore year and learned how to communicate with kids in preschool including individuals that don't speak English. This year, I got the chance to experience working at Capitol Hill, where I interned for Congressman French Hill. I think this stood out to me the most because I got to have an experience of what professional jobs in the real world look like before graduating high school. I learned how to work, communicate, and build connections in professional settings, and I really enjoyed my time there.

What was it like to attend a Congressional luncheon? What happened, what did you discuss, who else attended, etc.?

KZ: I was really excited when I got invited to attend a Congressional lunch with my congressman and other interns at my office. We went to a small and nice restaurant close to Capitol Hill and had lunch there while talking with the congressman and learning about his experiences. Our congressman was amiable and approachable, it was fun to learn about how he slowly got his way here to be a congressman and the Chair of the House Financial Services Committee.

How did your Cap Hill internship shape your thoughts and/or your plans moving forward (college, future career, etc.)?

KZ: My Capitol Hill internship shaped my thoughts by making me excited to enter the real world. I feel prepared and confident, knowing how to act properly around adults in a professional setting. I also really enjoyed building connections on Capitol Hill. Although it seems like a serious setting, people on Capitol Hill are super friendly. I learned to not be afraid to go up to people and start a conversation and was amazed by everyone’s unique and interesting backgrounds. This experience also helped me realize that age does not determine capability or value in the workplace. While I was interning on Capitol Hill, my supervisor often trusted me with the responsibility of training other interns on specific tasks. It made me aware of one’s ability to achieve something, regardless of their age or stage in their career.

_{#MadeiraInternships #MadeiraCoCurriculum #MadeiraLeads #MadeiraGrade11 #MadeiraCapitolHill}