My name is Ethan Hirsch. I am a rising junior currently on a track to receive a double major in International Politics and Finance, in addition to a Latin American Studies minor.

For the past nine weeks, I have been interning at the Council of the Americas. The Council is a policy organization dedicated to issues in the Western Hemisphere, including (but not limited to) political affairs, trade, energy, and immigration. As I  prepare for an extended study abroad in Sao Paulo, Brazil during the spring semester, I pursued an internship at the Council with the aim of gaining an in-depth perspective on Latin American affairs within the Washington D.C. bubble.

The modern day internship is continually evolving, becoming more coveted every year. What was once an opportunity for rising seniors to experience their future vocation, and possibly gain some footing within the company of their choice, has become a near-requirement for rising sophomores and juniors.  Interns have become an integral part of the economy, as corporations across America plug ambitious youngsters into corporate departments across the office to fulfill unglamorous, yet necessary tasks.

An all-encompassing creed that I’ve followed during my time here at the Council is a “never-say-no” attitude. To put it simply, I have tried to affirm every request made of me, volunteering readily in many cases, regardless of my relative lack-of-qualification, ability, or experience. This has helped me to avoid some of the rote day-to-day aspects of the traditional summer internship, and led to some interesting and unique experiences that I would certainly never have experienced otherwise. 

Prior to an event taking place on Capitol Hill, it was announced that our photographer could not make the event. I’ve never really been much the photographer, but why not? As a “DC local” (at least for the summer), I’ve taken countless pictures for tourist families, managing to fit all of the family members in the shot while incorporating the landmark-in-question! After readily offering my services as photographer, I was given a 2 minute tutorial by the photographer, which essentially consisted of “zoom in/out, point, click, and shoot.” How hard could it possibly be?

Before I knew it, I was given a professional-quality camera, and charged with capturing snapshots of the various V.I.Ps, Congressmen, and attendees. No problem. I began shooting conservatively, incorporating various angles, zooms, and pans. A cinch! Midway through the affair, I took a break to review my first foray into photography. Rather than the professional-quality photos I imagined, the results were horrendous. The shots were dark, out of focus, and generally poor. Immediately I began frantically running across the venue, figuring that by taking as many pictures as possible, I would come up with something useful. By the end of the event, I had nearly used up the entire memory card. 

In all, I was told that of the estimated 400 shots I took, approximately eight were suitable for use. 

Regardless of my futile attempts as a photographer, I urge prospective interns to follow a similar adage. By opening yourself up to any and all experiences, you will begin to find yourself more useful, meet more people around the office, and may even find your true vocational calling.