At the beginning of her summer, Abigail Helvering, a junior political science major from Anderson, Indiana, was excited to begin her internship at the White House under Congresswoman Susan Brooks, an opportunity provided through an APEX (Academic Planning and Experiential Learning) Fellowship from The College of Wooster.
During the internship, Abigail attended hearings and meetings with Rep. Brooks, took notes and wrote up reports on briefings the Congresswoman could not attend, drafted bill co-sponsorship recommendations, and performed issue research primarily in the area of homeland security and national defense.
Half way through her internship, however, Rep. Brooks, was unexpectedly named to the Select Committee on Benghazi – an investigative committee dealing with issues of government oversight, foreign policy, embassy security, intelligence and covert actions – and Abigail had the rare opportunity of being transferred with her. Abigail said her transfer to the Benghazi office as being terrifying and exciting: “I never imagined that I would end up there” she said, “I got to see a committee being built from the ground up…I really learned how Congress functions, better than any textbook could teach or any person could describe.”
“APEX was essential in connecting me with Wooster alumni and putting me in touch with people from the White House,” said Abigail, “APEX equipped me for success through the training before we left, and made this experience possible.” When asked if her internship ties into her future studies or career plans, she added, “the experience doesn’t just tie into what I want to do with my career and I.S., it is exactly what I want to do.”
By Kanika Issar ’15