Nick Cisco, a political science major, has been helping change lives by interning for the New Mexico delegation on Capitol Hill. Working closely with Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, he has been able to take what he learned at Pacific and apply it on a national level.
Why I picked my major
I have always been really interested in politics ever since the inauguration of Obama in 2009. Since then, I have tried to get involved in local, state and national politics as much as possible.
What drew me to University of the Pacific
I really liked the campus and the environment that came with it. I was also recruited for the swim and dive team and I really liked the team and the coaching staff. It just seemed like the perfect fit for me.
My internship opportunity
My internship was in Washington, D.C. on Capitol Hill where I worked for Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico’s First District.
I would get to work around 9 where we would first send out press clips of everyone in the New Mexico delegation which is three congresspeople and two senators. Then I would help write co-sponsor recommendations for the congresswoman to help her quickly read through the messages of the day. Some days we would give tours of the Capitol and help people who have meetings get through the building. Then I would help staff and ensure they finish all their projects.
Projects and assignments I worked on
Each staffer in the office was assigned to different types of issue areas. For example, one person was doing environmental issues while another was doing immigration policy. I was focused more on environmental issues, and I would help the staffer at meetings and committee hearings to make sure we had a good idea of what was going on.
The best part of working for the government
My favorite part is that feeling of actually making a change and hearing what you are doing is changing people’s lives. Many times, people would call our office to thank our congresswoman for the bills she’s passed and the stuff that our office was doing. It was such a cool feeling.
The greatest challenge I faced in my internship
A lot of the time people would call the office for issues that we cannot solve. Either it wasn’t a federal program, or we really could not fix the issue. It was really hard to tell those people that we could not help because we really do want to help everyone that calls but sometimes it’s impossible.
How Pacific prepared me for this internship
Last semester I took the Congress and the Presidency class with Professor Keith Smith. That class really prepared me for what I did during my internship because a lot of the assignments we did I actually did during my job including press clips and co-sponsor memos.
Something that surprised me
The internship was pretty much what I was expecting. I was surprised, however, to find out how nice people are on Capitol Hill and all the cool connections I made with people across the aisle and in the other offices around ours. I have made a lot of cool friends on the hill that I did not think would ever happen so it is definitely a cool experience.
How working for the government has confirmed what I want to do
This internship has solidified that I want to come back to Washington and eventually be a staffer on the Hill. That is what I really wanted to do as a kid, and this was a test to see if I really did enjoy it and I have to say it was one of the best summer jobs I have ever had.
My advice to someone looking for an internship
Stay persistent. There’s a chance you won’t get the internship that you have been wanting like working for the Department of Justice or the White House, but don’t let that discourage you. There are a bunch of internships out there and it is important to get your name out. I have been applying for congressional internships for the past two years, and I did not get any acceptance letters during my first year. It is very important to not give up and follow up with the internship coordinators to tell them you are serious.
My advice to students starting an internship
Make sure to make as many connections as you can. Get coffee with your boss and other people working at your internship to see how they got to the positions they are at. This is important to make great connections with your office so they will help you with your future endeavors.