Learning Skills, Creating Connections and Making Memories

Josh Ellison interned at the Congressional office with Representative Brad Schneider.


My experience in the Illinois in Washington (IIW) Program for the Spring 2024 season has been nothing short of amazing. Going into it not fully knowing what to expect, I had no concept of what I would truly gain out of the program, and it was difficult to conceptualize beyond the fact that I would be living in Washington DC.

Eventually, I was able to acquire an internship with Representative Brad Schneider’s (IL-10) Congressional office. This was mainly accomplished through my already existing connections, many of whom I gained while interning at his district office during the summer of 2023. The process as a whole was a stressful one no doubt. The IIW program relies heavily on your ability to apply and interview with dozens of offices, which can be very daunting. It became an ongoing task during my fall semester, and there were moments when I was unsure if I would succeed. This process can greatly sharpen one’s organization and communication skills and I know it certainly has for me.

At Congressman Schneider’s office, my work mainly consisted of answering calls from constituents, writing numerous memos and constituent response letters, attending briefings, giving Capitol tours, batching campaign emails, and doing any sort of research or miscellaneous task that the legislative team needed me to complete. And it’s not just what you do, it’s also who you meet. I had the opportunity to participate in dozens of coffee chats with many professionals also working on Capitol Hill. This allowed me to gather numerous different perspectives not only on their backgrounds but also on the work that they do and what they aspire to accomplish in the future. I intend to keep in contact with many of these people in some capacity because the knowledge, experience, and connections they have can create numerous new opportunities in the future.

The classes I took during this program have allowed me to enhance my understanding of public policy as well as the machinations required to create, implement, and enforce legislation. I was also honored to attend a class taught by Georgetown Law professor Charisma Howell (even though it was a Wednesday night), where I sharpened my debate skills and gained a greater understanding of the ever-changing relationship between public policy and law.

IIW has also allowed them to meet and befriend the other students participating in the program. These connections are ones that I hope to bring back with me to campus for my remaining years at the University of Illinois. The unique living arrangements I had at the Aria also broadened the number of people I interacted with regularly. In a six-person apartment, I was placed with four students attending the University at Albany, where I not only grew close to them but I was also introduced to the other students in their own “Semester in Washington’ program.

During the mere four months I have lived here, Washington DC has become almost a second home for me. I’ve had the privilege to visit the Supreme Court building, Meridian International Center, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Georgetown Law, Mount Vernon, and even the West Wing of the White House! DC is also home to a plethora of restaurants, museums, historic landmarks, and events that I have greatly enjoyed with the spare time I may have on the weekend.

In short, the Illinois in Washington program has been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. The skills that I have learned, the connections I’ve created, and the memories I made will be ones to last the rest of my lifetime. For those reasons, I am forever grateful to IIW and I recommend it to anyone.