A Walk on The Hill: January 2015

Introduction

Welcome to my blog! I know a lot of people have been waiting for this, so I finally am getting this blog started!

For those of you who I haven't met, my name is Barclay White. I was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas. I graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics in December of 2014 and shortly after started an internship in Washington, D.C.

Coming into college I battled non-Hodgkin's lymphoma it has been nearly four years since my diagnosis and I have been cleared since October 2011. Having cancer really shaped me into the person I am today. I am compassionate, fun-loving, light hearted, and see everything through eyes of faith. I believe everything has a purpose and it all works into God's plan for our lives. I'm excited to see how God uses this internship in His plan for me!

Getting the Internship

During my freshmen year at Texas Tech I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. with Chancellor Kent Hance and President Guy Bailey with President's Select. It was during March of 2012. I had the opportunity to tour Capitol Hill, the Pentagon, and the White House. I was able to see Tech's Congressional Internship Programs run through the President's Office and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR). Ever since then I knew I wanted to do the internship before I was officially done with college.

Last fall I applied and interviewed with the CASNR Internship Program. Our program is sponsored by many commodity groups who share an agricultural background and a deep understanding of the importance of an experience like this. The interview process happens in two parts: the first part is a group of our teachers, professors, and advisors; the second is representatives from the commodity groups who make this internship possible year-round. Many students applied and only four were selected through the CASNR program. Needless to say, I feel incredibly lucky I was chosen to participate in this internship!

My Experience

So far I have been in Washington, D.C. for about a week and a half. The time here is flying by, and there is so much to see and do! I am interning in the district office of Congressman Mike Conaway who represents the 11th Congressional District of Texas. The cities from there most people recognize are Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, Brady, Brownwood, and Llano. I wish everyone of you had a chance to meet Mr. Conaway and his wife Suzanne. You could not find a more humble and sincere representative. Even the lady who works the elevators for the representatives in the Capitol gushes about his kindness and sincerity.

Mr. Conaway was recently selected to be the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, it is a huge honor that West Texas last saw under Congressman Larry Combest. Texas Tech has alumni all over the Hill, and many reside as an Ag committee staffer or in Mr. Conaway's district office. There are a few Aggies, Longhorns, and Cowboys (OSU) so I'm surrounded by many great people!

The Tech House has been a great experience so far! The group of students I'm with are all very kind, fun, and easy going. We do a good job of taking care of one another, I've kind of become the Tech House Dad.It's interesting, although D.C. and Lubbock are vastly different I have not felt lost, scared, out of place, or homesick......yet. It's nice having all the other students here because we have pretty much formed a family.

We've had to do a few housekeeping jobs like busting up a broken boxspring to get it in the dumpster, fix a few lights, and use some "Southern engineering" on the dryer; other than those things the place is very nice! It takes me about 90 seconds to get from the Tech House door to the SE door of the Cannon Office Building, from there I drop down to the tunnels to access the Rayburn Office Building, where my office is.

The tunnel system is fantastic! I can go in any House or Senate Office Building and take the tunnels to the Capitol Building, the Library of Congress, or the Supreme Court. It's literally like it's own city. There are even subways that will make the trek a little faster. The security around the Capitol is pretty neat! After the threat this week I'm sure most of you heard about, security beefed up some, but I don't think anyone minds the additional hassle for their own safety.

I'll post some pictures and post again later today or tomorrow about actually working on the Hill and the other students in the Tech House!