Like many Saint Joseph’s University freshmen, Aaron Summers ’12 came to campus with an undeclared major.  But Summers’ indecision quickly evaporated when he took Introduction to American Government.

“After that course, I really knew that I wanted to be a political science major,” he said.

Last fall, Summers interned in Speaker John Boehner’s congressional office through the Saint Joseph’s University Washington Internship program.  Through its affiliation with The Washington Center for Internships, Saint Joseph’s affords qualified students of all majors the opportunity to participate in a myriad of internship experiences in Washington D.C.

“Had it not been for [the] Washington Center Program, I probably wouldn’t have been in D.C.,” Summers said.

The Washington Center for Internships is an independent, non-profit organization that facilitates the experiences of over 1,000 students in Washington D.C. each regular semester.  It fields applications, provides housing, and sets up internships for its students.

“I look at my internship experience last semester as a capstone to my [St. Joe’s] career,” he said.

Working in Speaker Boehner’s office, Summers went to committee hearings for congressional staff members, wrote memos on their behalf, and gave tours of the U.S. Capitol to constituents, VIPs, and friends of the speaker.

“It gave me a new perspective on the things that I had learned in the classroom, taking them into the real world,” Summers said.
   
His experience also included a weekly, televised class taught by Steven Scully, a host on C-SPAN.  In addition to submitting written reflections of their internship experiences, students studied the role of the media in presidential campaigns of recent American past.  

Politics has interested Summers since a young age, he said.  But now that he is a political science major, his interest has become more refined.  Summers views politics as an ongoing, non-stop narrative easily followed online or on TV.  But he also views it as a means of helping others.

“Ultimately you want to help people, you want to be on Capitol Hill making laws to help people – to help everyday Americans,” said Summers, who noted that the community focus of Saint Joseph’s Jesuit mission played an integral role in shaping his perspective.

Aaron Summers’ story of success is common at Saint Joseph’s University.  The generous donations of alumni, parents, and friends make stories like his possible.  Consider making a contribution to The Saint Joseph’s Fund today and make a difference in the student-supporting initiatives and academic programs that St. Joe’s has to offer.