During my time in DC I have found a favorite pizza place, as one always should when living in a new place. Situated perfectly on the route to the Lincoln memorial, &Pizza is the ideal pick-me-up after a long day of sightseeing and easily found when wanting to meet a new friend for dinner. It’s also a chipotle-style pizza place, meaning that you’re able to customize your pizza from the sauce to the drizzle on top and an excellent size for dinner plus leftovers. I’ve found myself going often when with others and it was the first place I ate when moving in for the summer. Like &Pizza, my time as a CAPS fellow has been very customizable both in and out of the workspace. I have been able to choose whether to live at home or move to a big city, to work with child welfare or senior services, to have one roommate or three in my apartment, and how to engage with the CAPS community and with communities here in Washington DC. 

The one decision I was most excited about making was working with Lutheran Services in America as my CAPS fellowship. I remember my interview fondly. I immediately felt welcomed and that I would have the opportunity to explore different sectors within LSA and be able to learn along the way. This rang true throughout my internship, as each person I interacted with at work welcomed me with warm smiles and encouraging comments. 

A lot about this summer left me with more questions than answers about my future and even about what the rest of my time at Valpo will be like. I have questions like, do I want to go grad school and when? What do I study after undergrad? Where do I want my networks to be? Where should I live to cultivate these networks? What jobs do I want to look for after my undergraduate degree? However, my time at Lutheran Services in America has shown me that being within a supportive work environment is one of my most important bases for my future. To be supported and able to receive constructive feedback among colleagues is essential to a successful organization. 

Another thing I’ve learned through my experiences this summer is the importance of community and networks. When arriving in DC, I knew I still wanted to be involved with my faith life even when away from home and the Valpo community. So, I joined a local church and was able to spend the summer making connections with young adults around the nation’s capital. Some of them were young professionals who had lived here for several years and some were summer interns like me. By listening to their stories and journeys I was able to learn valuable advice while creating relationships that will hopefully last beyond a summer. I was able to get an inside look on what living in the capital is like when it’s more than just a few weeks. I also learned the struggles and joys of other internships and working environments which will inevitably help shape my professional path in the future.