The day had finally arrived. After a week of meticulous training, it was time to welcome the newest cohort of curious and ambitious SEGL students. Our team of faculty members was dedicated to ensuring a smooth process, from picking up two incoming students at the airport to carrying their luggage up the dorm stairs.
My main goal for the week was to make the new semester feel at home and also learn the ropes myself (by the last week I would learn that there is always more to learn). The first week was an exciting jumble of chore tutorials, rule explanations, introductions, and questions (oh, the questions!). One unique aspect of being an SEGL student is that they take care of all of their spaces, whether it be the residence or the academic building. Chorientation, as we call it, is a day where faculty walk students through each of their chores and show them where to get supplies and tips/tricks on how to maintain a clean space. Commuting was another key aspect of the first week. Why? I’m glad you asked! Well, as one can imagine, 25 kids traveling throughout DC through a combination of taking the metro and walking is no small feat. That week, there were many mornings and afternoons of “Don’t take up the whole sidewalk” and “Stay on the right side of the escalator.”
As a former student, I was always impressed by the activities and guest speaker sessions faculty would plan for us. I never quite understood what happened behind the scenes, but being a Graduate Fellow has opened my eyes to a whole new world of production, academic production. It’s about 12:05 AM, the night before/morning of the first official academic session of the program. I’m frantically texting my dear friend (and alum) about the possibility of the students visiting the senate galleries to see the senators vote on the Big Beautiful Bill. In true SEGL fashion, my friend was interning for Bernie Sanders and wanted to give back to the SEGL community that helped shape him. This wasn’t on the schedule, and 24 hours before we didn’t even know it was a possibility, but lo and behold, that morning I and other faculty members knocked on our students' doors and told them we’re making adjustments to the schedule: “Be ready in 30 minutes; make sure to dress in formal attire.” About an hour later we’re first in line outside the visitor center. Behind the scenes, my friend is the first in his office, making about 29 gallery passes for 25 students and 4 faculty members. He brings another Senate intern along with him to escort our big group through the Capitol and into the Senate galleries and even gives our students a tour of the Capitol building afterwards. The students were surprised but also elated. I was relieved that it all worked out and carried a newfoundappreciation for the production behind the scenes that faculty members make for students to have unforgettable learning experiences.