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Politics for the Fun of It
ORU student revels in the exciting world of Washington politics
By Laura B. Raphael
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To Anna Wagner, a junior government major who spent the spring semester as an intern at the Republican National Committee and is now a full-time, temporary (until after the November election) RNC employee, "circus" is appropriate for an entirely different reason: it's just so darned much fun.
"I just can't imagine doing anything better or being in a more exciting place," she enthuses. Wagner, who was offered a full-time position after her internship ended, gets practically giddy talking about why her experience there has been so thrilling.
Let's see... there are the 14-hour days, the complete lack of a personal life, and the endless numbers of spreadsheets she's created and phone calls she's taken.
"I know it's weird, but I love this so much. For me, I love the excitement of the late hours, the stressful environment, the campaigning aspect of it all. Eventually, I'm sure I'll get it out of my system and I'll want to have regular hours and have my weekends to myself. But until then, this is absolutely what I want to do and where I want to be," she says.
As an intern for the RNC's evangelical outreach director, Drew Ryun, and now, as Surrogate Travel Coordinator in the political division of the RNC, Wagner spends her days on the phone and on the computer, preparing reports and briefings, setting up meetings, arranging travel for the RNC's surrogates, and learning everything she can about how things work in Washington. Although the work may seem commonplace, the impact she helped make as an intern and is continuing to make as an employee is worth it.
"They definitely let you do a whole lot [as an intern]. You don't feel like you're just licking envelopes, though that's certainly part of it. They give you a lot of opportunities to feel like you're part of something bigger--to make a difference," she says. She cites being able to plan a successful RNC pastors' event in Wisconsin, her home state, as particularly fulfilling. Despite the liberal tendencies of the state, the event drew a large crowd and helped communicate President George W. Bush's policies to key church leaders.
There are also a few other perks to the position, Wagner admits. How about meeting celebrities such as Third Day, participating in pro-Bush rallies, and being on both MTV and CNN?
"It can be a surreal experience. You're just sitting at your desk and a congressman--one of your heroes--will pass by... and that's normal. Do you know that I walk past the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress and the U.S. Capitol every day on the way to work? Not too long ago, there was a prayer vigil outside of the Supreme Court when the Pledge of Allegiance case was being decided--and just last weekend there was an enormous pro-choice rally with tons of people and signs. It's indescribable to be living in a city where you're surrounded by this kind of stuff."
Another fun pastime for Wagner is joining the flood of ORU alumni already in Washington to change the perception of ORU students and graduates.
"I don't know why this is, but many people have a completely wrong view of what ORU students and alumni are like. They think we live in this very sheltered environment and know nothing about the outside world," she says.
"For people to meet someone 'normal' from ORU, it says a lot. They discover that we can talk the language of politics, that we know what's going on in the world. It's great to show them that ORU students are smart, talented, and that we will make a difference in whatever role we're in. And they find out that we have strong convictions and morals, which really makes you stand out here."
Although staying in Washington wasn't Wagner's original plan--she was on track to graduate from ORU after just three years, in May of 2005--she's excited about the opportunities to learn and grow in her new position, which will end in mid-November, when the election is over. She will still graduate early, in December of 2005, though not exactly on her original schedule. And that's okay.
"I'm a very organized and planned kind of person," Wagner says. "That's the crazy thing about all of this. God has plans for you that sometimes you're not even aware of. You think that how you've planned your life is the way it needs to be, but God has a different view of things, and when that happens, you just follow Him."
