𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚢 𝚗𝚎𝚝.

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙾𝚗𝚎

BEEP

BEEP

BEEP

I toss and turn as I try to ignore the dreaded alarm that's emitting from my phone across the room. I made a promise to get myself on an early rise schedule, as Senator Rapeheal Warnock's internship was beginning today. I've been getting into the habit ever since I found out two weeks ago my complete application was accepted to work in his office on the Hill. I applied after graduation in May and received a call back a couple weeks ago for a video interview through Zoom.

I roll my eyes and finally drag myself to the other side of my room where my phone lays atop my desk covered in a pile of papers. I rummage through the papers and manage to find my phone.

6:13 A.M.

I knew I would have to commit myself to becoming an early riser. I just didn't know how early "early" was until now. I wanted to join his campaign to not only gain experience but in hopes of crossing paths with Senator Jon Ossoff. Even just thinking about potentially working alongside him in this moment made my stomach do backflips.

Ever since last year's presidential election and Georgia's Senate runoff I've dedicated so much of my free time to following Jon's work in the Senate and watching an absurd amount of C-SPAN daily. Just in the hope of getting a glance at him if even for a few seconds. Deep inside I believe that he's the future of the Democratic party. He hasn't even reached his full potential yet. I sigh and snap out of my daydream. I head towards the bathroom to take a shower, brush my teeth, and get dressed for the day. By the time I finish my phone reads 6:50 and I'm supposed to meet Warnock, his team, and the rest of the interns at his office by 7:15. Thankfully his office is only a few blocks from my apartment, considering I graduated from Georgetown not too long ago. As a fresh graduate hoping to snag a permanent job on the Hill this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. And interning for Warnock was the perfect opportunity.

----

I finally made it to the Hill where Warnock's office is located.

Raphael Warnock

B40D Dirksen Senate Office Building

I enter the building and I look around for the nearest elevator to head to Floor B. I was too tired to drag myself up two flights of stairs considering the lobby is Floor G, or the Ground Floor. I press the button waiting patiently for one of the doors open. Once inside I press the button labeled "B" and hope I make it in time considering it's now 7:13. With just a minute to spare I quickly power walk down the hallway towards door B40D. I can start to hear a loud, robust voice begin to speak and I can only assume it's Warnock's.

My guess was right. As I open the door all eyes are on me.

"Thank you everyone for finally joining me as I seek to fill out my staff here in my D.C. office."

I could feel the emphasis he put on "finally."  There are only four of us myself included.

"I know what you all are thinking. Shouldn't his staff be filled by now? Are we just here to do the grunt work? I'll be frank with you. The answer to both of those questions is "yes" but I haven't managed to find a staff that I'm completely satisfied with, which is why you all are here. You'll have the chance to intern concerning fundraising, social media outreach, and communicate with Senator Ossoff and Georgia's democratic congressmen and women in the House."

A woman who has to be at least in her mid 40s early 50s makes her way to the front of the room and introduces herself as Senator Warnock's Chief of Staff. I can't help but notice how beautiful her natural red hair is.