Intern Diary 2026

DODO partners with Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, as part of Flinders University's Washington Internship Program, which enables Australian undergraduate students to intern in the U.S. Congress and Washington, D.C.-based think tanks, media outlets, and nonprofits. DODO provides local support and advice, organizes tours and extracurricular activities, and other services to ensure visiting students get the full U.S. internship experience. 

In this post, Evie Beven, who is interning with Representative Vicente Gonzalez, Jr. (TX-34), in the winter of 2026, reflects on her experiences on the Hill so far and provides advice for future interns.  Cross posted on Flinders University's website.  

Upon my arrival, I was immediately struck by the sheer scale of Congress. It was bigger and more complex than I had imagined, not just in physical size but in the scope of each office’s work. I was especially surprised to see how active our office was across a wide range of policy areas, despite representing what might seem like an unassuming district in southern Texas. 

Because of this, I’ve had the privilege to attend briefings on issues I never imagined would be discussed, in rooms that I could never have dreamed I would be sitting in. Some briefings focus on sweeping geopolitical questions, such as “What happens if the U.S. invades Greenland?” or “What happens next with Venezuela?” On other days, I have worked on highly specific local matters, including researching the New World screwworm infestation in Mexico and attending briefings to help draft a letter to constituents about its potential impact in Texas.

This wide range of discussions extends beyond office hours, where after-work events offer a window into how people, conversations, and relationships shape the operations of Capitol Hill. Every night there was something to do, whether it was an event by Sony Entertainment where we could spend hours playing their newest video game, a showcase of the latest breakthroughs in healthcare technologies, or accidently stumbling into a Q&A with Noble Prize winner and former president of Poland, Lech Wałęsa. The events were often the first step in the creation of policy. Staff get to see the real work being done in industry, which can then spark policy ideas. Ultimately, it showed me how far a friendly conversation could go in making legislative change.