Ever since I first heard about the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program, I was eager to apply. Spending a semester in the nation’s capital was a fantastic opportunity, and I knew it would be an incredibly valuable and unforgettable experience. But when I first told my family relatives that I was going to be in Washington, D.C. during the 2024 election, their first reaction was, “Be careful.”
The past few months have been a time of great uncertainty throughout the country, and nowhere else has that been as prevalent than in D.C. As the weeks in October steadily flew by and the cool days of November began, it seemed each person in the city was constantly holding their breath in anticipation. From my colleagues at my internship, strangers you cross on the street, and even my friend’s Uber driver, a blend of excitement and tension was predominant in everyone.
Washington, D.C. may be our nation’s capital and the center of American politics, but many men, women, and children call this city their home. With the country’s focus on their hometown, it’s easy for D.C.’s inhabitants to be nervous. Some worried about their safety, a few pharmacies had boarded up their store as a precaution, the police made frequent patrols around the streets, and many were concerned about their future employment since their jobs could be affected depending on the results.
An administration change was inevitable, and nobody knew what the future would bring.
Living in D.C. before an administration change was surreal for me. I had the opportunity to tour the U.S. Capitol and the White House in the weeks leading up to the election. It felt strange to walk through these buildings, knowing that some form of change was imminent. What new men and women will walk through these chambers of Congress to represent their state? A new First Family will call the White House home, but which one? And at my internship at the U.S. Department of State, we will inevitably have a new Secretary of State, but how will the new administration impact regular operations?
I stood in the heart of American politics with the direction of the next four years of policy unknown. The uncertainty brought tension for some, but it also brought excitement. The energy that comes from engaging in the political process was contagious. Walking down the streets in D.C., I recognized that this is the precipice for the immediate future and all attention was fixated here.
The Saturday before the election, a few friends and I rode on electric scooters and raced down the National Mall. Our destination was the White House. We stood on the South Side with the Washington Monument right behind us. With the election in three days, it was almost bizarre to look at the White House. We shared our predictions and excitement, each of us desperately wanting Tuesday to arrive.
The next day when I attended Sunday Church, the priest prayed for the future election and for our country. The combination of nervous excitement was palpable and consistently growing.
The entire city was alive on the night of November 5th. Restaurants were packed with energetic guests, including Union Pub which was just down the street. Most people had multiple election parties to attend, hopping from one to another as they conversed with their friends and colleagues.
But while the city began their night, I attended my economics class that lasted until 8:30 PM. My class dutifully participated in the discussion-based class with Professor Reardon, yet as the clock neared 8:30, we were eager to begin officially our election watch.
A large group of my friends and I gathered in the Hillsdale House for our own Hillsdale election party in D.C. One boy brought down a television from his apartment so we could watch the news. With Chick-Fil-A sandwiches in hand and fellow WHIP students coming and going, we switched across the different news networks.
I stayed up as the hours flew by. Some stayed glued to the television with me, while others went to sleep since they had work in the morning. Only when the 2024 election was called, announcing Donald Trump as our 47th President, did I go to sleep.
It is an incredible blessing to be the United States capital. I truly love D.C. And on November 6th, the morning after the election, I found myself falling deeper in love with the city. The warnings my relatives provided me was unnecessary. From the intimating uncertainty to the hopeful excitement, I’m grateful that I got to discover what D.C. is like during election season.
By Sophie Fink, '25