"I've come to love the work I do on the hill so much that I can't imagine not returning at some point. This internship has altered my perspective on the future. "
Meet Abby Smart '26, an international affairs and political science major from Pembroke, NH, who is spending her summer as an intern in the Office of U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen.
After spending a semester in Washington, D.C. through the Washington Center Program, Abby applied directly through New Hampshire's delegation websites and landed her dream Capitol Hill internship.
Her days involve working on constituent relations — answering phones, drafting letters, and speaking with Granite Staters about their concerns. She also assists legislative staff by attending briefings and hearings, writing memos, and coordinating with other offices.
Watching constituent concerns evolve into staff preparation and ultimately bills on the floor has given Abigail an eye-opening view of how government actually works. Through this experience, she's networked with people in positions she'd love to fill one day and experimented with different roles across press, scheduling, and legislation.
For Abby, the highlight of the summer has been working with the Senator's National Security team. The experience has led to novel opportunities, including attending Secretary of Defense Hegseth's budget hearing and giving a Capitol tour to Vice Admiral Bradley, the nominee for Special Operations Commander.
Her advice for fellow students: "Apply to more internships than you think you should! Take every opportunity given to you, even if you don't think it'll be the most interesting. I discovered a whole new set of interests through random internship tasks."
Thanks for sharing your Capitol Hill experience with us, Abby!
"I've come to love the work I do on the hill so much that I can't imagine not returning at some point. This internship has altered my perspective on the future. "
Meet Abby Smart '26, an international affairs and political science major from Pembroke, NH, who is spending her summer as an intern in the Office of U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen.
After spending a semester in Washington, D.C. through the Washington Center Program, Abby applied directly through New Hampshire's delegation websites and landed her dream Capitol Hill internship.
Her days involve working on constituent relations — answering phones, drafting letters, and speaking with Granite Staters about their concerns. She also assists legislative staff by attending briefings and hearings, writing memos, and coordinating with other offices.
Watching constituent concerns evolve into staff preparation and ultimately bills on the floor has given Abigail an eye-opening view of how government actually works. Through this experience, she's networked with people in positions she'd love to fill one day and experimented with different roles across press, scheduling, and legislation.
For Abby, the highlight of the summer has been working with the Senator's National Security team. The experience has led to novel opportunities, including attending Secretary of Defense Hegseth's budget hearing and giving a Capitol tour to Vice Admiral Bradley, the nominee for Special Operations Commander.
Her advice for fellow students: "Apply to more internships than you think you should! Take every opportunity given to you, even if you don't think it'll be the most interesting. I discovered a whole new set of interests through random internship tasks."
Thanks for sharing your Capitol Hill experience with us, Abby!