In this first-person narrative, Bailey Rorex, an undergraduate student studying criminal justice and political science, shares her experience interning on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., reflecting on how the opportunity shaped her perspective, academic interests and future career aspirations.
When I arrived in Washington, D.C., in January for my legislative internship with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s office, I already knew I was interested in pursuing a career on Capitol Hill. I had visited Washington twice before, but this was my first opportunity to experience the city not as a visitor, but as someone working in the Senate. Over the next several months, I gained a better understanding of public service and confirmed that this is a world I want to be part of.
As a legislative intern, I handled constituent correspondence, answered phones, drafted response letters and gave Capitol tours, including tours for groups from my hometown and school groups from across Nevada. I was also assigned to a policy team covering transportation, technology, education and other issues that did not fit neatly into another policy area. Because of the breadth of the portfolio, every day brought something different.
One of the most rewarding parts of the internship was working on projects that connected directly to Nevada. One project I am particularly proud of was drafting Senate Resolution 701, which recognized National Dark Skies Week.
I grew up in rural Nevada, where looking at the stars was a huge part of my childhood. My family and I would stargaze whenever we went camping, and the night sky was simply part of growing up where I did. Getting to take something that had been a small but meaningful part of my childhood and work on a resolution that brought national attention to the importance of dark skies was incredibly meaningful to me.
The most exciting moment came when I handed the resolution to the person responsible for taking it onto the Senate floor. Until that point, it had been something I had researched and worked on at my desk. Suddenly, it was becoming an actual piece of Senate business. When I later learned that the resolution had passed unanimously during a government shutdown, I was shocked. It was one of those moments when the work I had done suddenly felt very real.
I also had the opportunity to draft a letter to the NBA commissioner advocating for Nevada and the possibility of bringing an NBA team to the state. The letter was ultimately signed and sent by the Nevada congressional delegation. Working on an issue so closely connected to Nevada reminded me that the work happening in Washington can have a direct connection to the state I call home.
I had opportunities to work with other congressional offices, including Senator Jacky Rosen’s office on Capitol tours and school groups. These experiences showed me how much collaboration happens behind the scenes.
One of the biggest surprises of working on Capitol Hill was how small the world felt. Washington can seem enormous from the outside, but inside the Capitol, it often felt more like a small town. People knew each other, stopped to talk in the hallways and were willing to share their experiences. I became close with other interns, some of whom I still keep in contact with today. I also remain in touch with the legislative assistant and senior policy adviser I worked under. Their willingness to teach me and include me in the work made the experience feel less like simply an internship and more like an introduction to a community I hope to remain part of.
When I returned to Nevada in May, I immediately applied for another internship, this time with the city. I wanted to continue learning about public service from a different perspective. My time in Senator Cortez Masto’s office gave me more than experience for a résumé. It showed me what working in government actually looks like and gave me the chance to contribute to projects connected to Nevada and issues I care about.
Most importantly, it answered a question I had before I arrived in Washington: Is this where I want to be?
After several months on Capitol Hill, I know the answer is yes.
