People always say “it seems like yesterday…”
Well, this time I guess it is my turn. It does seem like yesterday that I embarked upon my first train ride to Metro Center. After walking in the wrong direction for a few blocks, I turned around and finally arrived at the back door of the Church of the Epiphany. My fellow Street Sense intern, Hannah Morgan, let me in.
I walked up two flights of stairs oblivious that one day in my near future Allen Hoorn would soon force me and Randy Meza, another intern, to carry an unnatural number of old newspapers back down to the recycling bin. I had arrived at the Street Sense office.
I couldn’t believe my internship was about to start. I had been waiting for this day since I interviewed with editor Mary Otto, and here I am now at the close of it all, saying goodbye. It has been a wonderful experience. I’ve enjoyed everything, from my first day when I was immediately sent out to cover a story, to writing notes at vendor meetings until my hand cramped.
Do you want to know a secret? This is really a fun place to work. You have to have tough skin as an intern though, because you have been hired so that Allen can pick on you and give Mary and Eric a break.
My favorite part of writing stories for Street Sense were the days when I was sent out to find faces and voices that represented what my story was about. Sometimes I think journalists, and even readers, can get bogged down in dis- cussing numbers and forget that the millions of people mentioned in an article are people, and they have a voice. Making that voice heard was the best part of my job.
Being an intern at Street Sense has had its ups and downs. I don’t think I am allowed in Bank of America again thanks to the enormous amount of change I brought in to deposit for the newspaper. I was however, able to build connections with people from wonderful organizations around Washington that are working to help the homeless.
I know I will come back one day. As this semester has proved, no earthquake, hurricane, or terrorist threat will stop me.
