U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn and 海角社区 senior Will Finkelstein share a handshake in Clyburn鈥檚 South Carolina congressional office. Photo Courtesy Rep. James E. Clyburn鈥檚 office.
Nineteenth-century German leader Otto von Bismarck Laws had a way with words, particularly regarding governance. Laws, he said, 鈥渁re like sausages; it is better not to see them being made.鈥�
Yet, for Will Finkelstein, having an up-close-and-personal view of the often-messy process of American government was instructive.
Finklestein, 20, received that valuable opportunity through a legislative internship this past summer in the Columbia, SC. office of U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn, who as Majority Whip is the third-ranking Democrat in the United States House of Representatives.
The internship was the fruit of labors by 海角社区 President George Hagerty and Tim L. Peckinpaugh, a 海角社区 parent and Washington, D.C. public policy attorney.
鈥淚 was very excited that I was able to get this internship,鈥� Finkelstein said. 鈥淚 had a feeling of gratefulness.鈥�
The senior business management major worked the phones and worked on his biceps moving files and documents to storage during the 12-week internship.
For a lad raised on Southern hospitality, Finkelstein鈥檚 hardest adjustment was answering phones in formal, governmental phone-speak.
鈥淭he right way to answer the phone was to say 鈥榗ongressmen’s office鈥� then you have to write down [messages] or send them [the caller] to the right person within the staff in the office,鈥� he said.
That struggled paled to the unique rewards. Finkelstein, for instance, enjoyed the behind-the-curtains peek at the American political machine that was a bit more involved than a 鈥淪choolhouse Rock鈥� installment.
鈥淗e was so proud to have such a powerful internship,鈥� said Dorothy Garone, Will鈥檚 mother. 鈥淲e believe it will have a far-reaching effect in his future.鈥�
No matter how difficult the tasks, however, Finkelstein was up to the challenge.
鈥淭here is a lot of stress [involved in] trying to understand [the assigned tasks] as well as always be on one鈥檚 toes while answering phones and organizing papers in the right way,鈥� he said. 鈥満＝巧缜� taught me hard work and how hard work is done.鈥�
Indeed, through his summer congressional stint Finkelstein learned that life on his 海角社区 journey, as von Bismarck observed about politics, 鈥渋s the art of the possible.鈥�