Goodbye Washington!

Goodbye State Department

Thank you to my amazing office in PRM. I learned a great deal this summer and 10 weeks seemed to pass in a flash. I leave with a great deal of knowledge not only about refugee situations and GBV, but also about humanitarian aid and the functioning of the US government.

I’ve particularly enjoyed working remotely under Secretary Clinton this summer. She is an inspiration to me and I feel lucky to have seen brief glimpses of her this summer and to have watched her as she pushed for change and the integration of new perspectives for US diplomacy and development at the State Department and USAID… from the TED@State talk in June to the July 10th town hall meeting where she enveiled her QDDR…

The town hall began with the Secretary’s presentation of progress and her vision for organizational change:

“We need to align our resources with strategic priorities to direct our funds and to maximize our impact. As individuals, as an organization, we need to work better, work smarter, and work together with more partners in and beyond our government. And instead of simply trying to adjust to the way things are, we need to get in the habit of looking to the horizon and planning for how we want things to be.”

She also announced the launch of a new "Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review” (QDDR) and called on State Department employees to contribute to building “a State Department and a United States Agency for International Development that are the envy of not only our government, but of governments everywhere, because of what we will prove we are fully capable of producing – real change that furthers our interests and our values, protects our security, and again, inspires millions and millions of people around the world.”


Goodbye Washington

I often run around the mall, either at lunch or after work. My favorite view is when I come on the north side of the Lincoln memorial and run by the reflecting pool. The Washington Monument, jetting high into the blue sky, standing defiantly in front of the Capitol. I run by, half amazed, half trying to avoid the tourists taking photos. (I’m curious photos I have ruined this summer.) I’ve also discovered several previously unknown to me monuments... one for FDR, for example, a series of waterfalls along the reservoir.

As part of the internship program here at state, I’ve been lucky to participate in several tours and activities at some of these monuments. I have toured the Capitol, White House, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and the Diplomatic Reception Rooms at the State Department.

I’ll miss the history of DC and the history I witnessed. It’s amazing to be at the epicenter of public policy and to see it in action.


Goodbye DC. Goodbye State. Goodbye PRM.