Overcoming DC Problems

       We are ending week four and are now ACTUALLY halfway through our Duke Engage experience at Rock the Vote. I know I've written this every time but time is honestly zooming by. Work is going well and we are now getting to see our projects come to fruition, which is pretty cool. There are six of us and five staff members so there's clearly work to be done. 

At first, our group did have trouble adjusting to the work that needed to be done that was outside of what we prepared to do. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job. I could not be any happier when I perform my Marketing intern duties. I'm sure the same goes for everyone else in the group as far as their respective job positions go. We have, however, learned to swallow our pride and do whatever else needs to be done (you know, overcoming our DC Problems – please don’t think we let that inside joke die). For example, we sat down for a lot of Thursday and Friday last week to label, stuff and seal envelopes to send to donors. Believe me, you would be sadly surprised to find out how long it took us college students to figure out the proper method of assembly line. But it's fine; we figured it out, and the embarrassing road to figuring it out stays between the six of us. 

At first, I was not thrilled to label, stuff and seal what seemed to be an endless pile of envelopes, but then I remembered the significance of what we're doing. Rock the Vote is a nonprofit and thus needs donors and support. What we were doing with those letters was just as important if not more important than some of the other jobs we've done. We're learning that, as interns, we are called to do whatever Rock the Vote needs us to do. To be completely honest, the assembly line was one of the coolest experiences I've had this summer. Every member of the company pitched in - it turned into quite the communal bonding experience with everyone cracking jokes and getting to know each other better. I know you’re dying to know the final assembly line setup so here it is: the VP of marketing & communications pulled a letter and handed it to the president to sign, who passed it down to an intern and a couple staff members to stuff into an envelope, who finally passed the envelope to another staff member and me to seal. Pretty solid system, right? 

On another note, forty years ago this day, we ratified the 26th Amendment allowing 18 year olds the right to vote. Meaning, at the time when it was debated and subsequently passed, kids were being drafted and serving in the Vietnam War without a say in electing the politicians deciding what was going on in the war. The 26th Amendment's passage allows for the youth to have a say in what happens in this country (especially with issues that directly affect them) and I am more than happy to do anything for Rock the Vote in order to not halt that progress.