It's Spring time in D.C. - and the weather is awful! I've been sick for a week now - and it doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon, unfortunately.

This past Monday, my Journalism Seminar met with ED HENRY!

He was probably one of the funniest speakers we've had, yet! It was such a humbling experience listening to his story. He was also in the Washington Semester Program, except he didn't return home for his senior year - instead he stayed in D.C. and worked for

Jack Anderson!

He eventually took enough classes to receive a degree, however he now works for CNN as the White House correspondent - and it's impossible to say if he would be where he is now without having worked so hard as an intern under Anderson.

He jokingly poked fun at multiple students during his lecture - especially one female who was late to class. For the first time this semester, I didn't even WANT to look at my iPhone, laptop, speak with my best friend - none of that. I was completely focused on Ed Henry, and he was absolutely incredible.

He gave me a lot of motivation that I seemed to be losing a little bit of recently due to the daily hustle and bustle of the city and commuting! He gave me a bit of a recharge and a bunch of inspiration to keep me going through this last month!

WOW...only one more month in this incredible city - how upsetting!

It has been a very eventful month between my classes and my internship! The last time I went to my internship I actually went to the PENTAGON with Stars and Stripes reporter, Megan McCloskey.



I sat in on a press conference in the actual press room to listen in on an interview with an Admiral aboard a ship in the Mediterranean Sea! The focus was of course on the controversy in Libya. It was extremely interesting to not only hear from Admiral Gerard Hueber, but to also hear the questions from the 30 some people seated in the room.

There was a military official directing the entire conference. He chose whose turn it was to speak and ask questions. I was able to watch the journalism process in action in the same room as Barbara Starr from CNN and from Dave Martin from CBS, who visited our class a few weeks ago.


I even was back in the Radio and Print offices before and after the actual conference. I was able to speak with people from Stars and Stripes, Reuters, and Politico! It was truly the most incredible experience I have had thus far in D.C.

I cannot express how important an internship is while in this great big city. It's getting me even more excited for graduation - I just want to get out and be the real thing!

I have officially seen the entire White House!

(Well, the parts that the public is allowed to see).

I can't believe how incredible it is. I toured the West Wing last fall, and it was the experience of a life time - but I never thought I'd get a tour of the East Wing, too. My entire class toured every room in the East Wing with my Aunt guiding us along the way. She has been in the Air Force for over 15 years and works in the White House Military Office. She has the job of a life time...not that I know what she actually does, though.

It's unfortunate that pictures are forbidden inside the White House, because the gorgeousness cannot possibly be described! The color coordination of each room and specific furniture and art is chosen by each president through a catalog of archived furniture. I also learned that the East Wing is the First Lady's wing!

The pictures that I was able to see are just priceless. The pictures of the Kennedy's and all of the past Presidents hanging on the walls - it's really something. The tour is so quick though! There were about 10 rooms to see, and then it was done! We were able to take some pictures outside, though - so here they are!

^ My aunt and I.

What an eventful week thus far! It is incredible how crucial networking is in this great city! On Monday, our class took a small field trip to the Foreign Press Center. We had a board of between 4 and 5 people from different countries. It was especially cool to see the foreign students from my class have the opportunity to speak with members from their countries in the press. I didn't realize the issues in their home countries are just as plentiful as the issues in the United States.

Being in the city has also kept me extremely active and interested! I wear a pedometer on a daily basis and I'm taking over 12,000 steps a day! And, with the rise of healthy eating and nutritional conscious being spread throughout the world - the city is a great place to maintain a diet. It's easy to stay active and the greatest time of year for D.C. is quickly approaching: Cherry Blossom time!

I'm really excited to see the city transform for a whole week! I've been told that it almost always rains during the time that Cherry Blossoms bloom, so I'll have to go for a long walk the next time it's nice out!

To be honest, driving into the city every morning never gets old. I am still just as amazed by the Washington Monument, Capital Builidng and White House.

It's such an incredible place!

The Verizon Center and the Washington Wizards!

Yesterday was super cool. We got a tour of the Verizon Center from the CFO of the Washington Wizards. We were taken into the most prestigious areas, such as the Player's Club, the Owner's Club, the Locker Room and even their practice arena!

We accidentally even ran into the GM of the Wizards! The center was so much fun to walk around in, but the overwhelming smell of popcorn was SO taunting. I was ravenous by the time I left.

The Player's Club is on the third floor of the Verizon Center, and the view is incredible! There's an elite group that pays a LOT of money to enjoy the area whenever they'd like for meetings, food, and of course to watch the game!

The Owner's Club is spaced over two different floors. The bottom floor is a living room/dining room area where the owners and their families and friends meet for a meal during the game. The upstairs floor is right above the first rows of seating. There is a kitchen and bar on this floor, and it's stocked with Ted Leonsis' favorite things.

The Locker Room...stinks! :) It was really fun, but it was pretty apparent that a bunch of sweaty athletes have been spending a lot of time in there recently. I put my foot against one of their shoes, and it was so much smaller!

We also saw their Practice Arena, for nights when hockey is taking place, and they can't use the floor. This definitely ranks as one of my favorite trips so far! I absolutely loved the laid back, yet conservatively organized, atmosphere that the Verizon Center has.

Today, we went to Sirius XM Satellite Radio HQ here in D.C.!

Our tour guide was none other than Bob Edwards. He has his own show called the Bob Edwards show!

He's really down to earth and gave a lot of great advice about how to get into the industry. He spoke a lot about the history of Sirius and XM satellite radio stations. They were once separate companies and actually complete rivals in the business. Sirius and XM were the only two companies that had the government's approval to begin satellite radio. After much battling and millions of dollars spent trying to bring each other down, they decided to merge.

The merge cost many people, hundreds in fact, their jobs due to too many alike stations (i.e two reggae stations, two alternative rock stations etc.) Also, due to the merger between the two companies, there are two offices: one is in New York, and the other in D.C.

We visited multiple studios and even got to enter the 60's studio. I even had the opportunity to speak on-air! I requested "All You Need is Love" by The Beatles and we discussed my hometown on air! It was so cool.

We also had the opportunity to step inside the performance room at the station, which has been seen by some of the most incredible performers in history. I sat in the same chair as Paul McCartney! :)

Today was by far one of the most fun trips we've taken in the city, I absolutely love the studio, and I've added yet another potential summer internship opportunity!