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By Summer Burglass
Appears on The White House Blog

Ed. note: Applications are now being accepted for the Summer 2015 White House Internship Program. This blog post introduces readers to Larry Hailsham, a former intern who worked in the Office of Presidential Correspondence in the summer of 2014. When asked about his internship experience, here’s what Larry wrote.

I remember starting my application to apply for the White House Internship Program and the hesitations that I had. I wondered if I should even apply. But the moment I hit submit, there was no going back. A few short weeks later, I was interviewed and accepted into the program, something I would have never expected.

I thought I had realized I was accepted into the program, but as I entered into the gates on my first day as an intern at the White House, I still didn’t believe it. That’s right, even on the first day, I didn’t believe it. I never would’ve thought that I would have this opportunity, and there I was.

Interning in the Office of Presidential Correspondence provided me with a deeper understanding of how important an open dialogue between the American people and our President is. Every day, many Americans take to the pen or keyboard and write the President in search of help and support, and he responds. To me, this proved to be an amazing process. Realizing that the President reads 10 letters a day and wants to stay in touch with the American people was refreshing.

Throughout the internship, I also had the opportunity to volunteer with summer school students at Woodrow Wilson High School. Having the opportunity to not only work at the White House but in the community allowed me to understand how important service to others is. The students I had the opportunity to work with constantly amazed me at their drive and determination regardless of the circumstances they were dealt.

I started to feel at home at the White House. It was no longer just a big historical building to me — now, it had people in it. From the weekly speaker series with senior staff to the hallway encounters with fellow interns, the White House Internship Program provided me with a deeper understanding of public service and what government can achieve.

Summer Burglass is the Staff Assistant for the White House Internship Program.