Finding My Path: How an Internship in D.C. Redefined My Career Goals

Norah Fadell interned at the Senator Richard J. Durbin’s office and worked on the economy and education portfolios. Norah pursue her carrer in the Chicago government working to secure affordable and accessible housing after finishing her undergraduate.


Like most political science students at UIUC, I had heard the Illinois in Washington pitch in countless classes. I never felt too strongly about the program, but as I approached my junior year, I knew this was my last opportunity to study off-campus and try out a new city. I sent out resumes and cover letters to a wide variety of institutions across D.C. from NGOs to think tanks to the city government. I applied to very few congressional jobs, but I knew that Senator Richard J. Durbin was a true public servant with a proven track record of progressive politics. I was incredibly grateful to receive the offer to work for his office, and I was soon obsessively packing for my move to Washington.

On my first day, I was assigned to work on the economy and education portfolios. I was incredibly grateful to my intern coordinators who listened to my interests and assigned me work I was passionate about. As an Urban Planning major, my superiors often invited me to meetings with housing organizations so that I could get a taste of my future career. I was upfront with the fact that I do not want to come back to Washington and be a hill staffer, and my supervisors were incredibly understanding and encouraging of my interests. Throughout the nearly four months, I attended Senate hearings, legislative briefings, and a constituent coffee. I wrote countless memos, gave tours of the Capitol, and even advised the legislative staff on cosponsorships. I got to meet the President of the American Planning Association and walk the halls next to Senators who have been in office longer than I have been alive. The experience has been fulfilling, nerve wracking, and unbelievably cool.

In addition to my job, the IIW program positively shaped my D.C. experience. I met incredible people who have made this semester a joy. We travelled around the city exploring cultural landmarks and making professional connections. I enjoyed the classes we got to take, and I highly recommend signing up for the optional PS 321 class. The semester will not be easy. There will be times where you do not want to come home from working nine hours to write an essay. However, I have never felt so confident in my abilities to thrive after graduation as I enter adulthood.

In January, I will return to the University of Illinois campus with an entirely new perspective on my future. I will revel in my last three semesters in college while fostering the connections I have made this fall. My time at the Senator’s office was full of joy and fascination, but I now understand that federal work is not my dream career. My favorite assignments focused on the happenings in Chicago, and I know now that my place is serving the people of my home city. After graduation, I hope to find work in the Chicago government working to secure affordable and accessible housing for all Chicagoans. I will always remember, though, the incredible honor it has been to serve Illinoisans as an intern at Senator Durbin’s office.