Hey y'all! I was hoping to get some advice because this has been such a rough decision for me. The TLDR is at the bottom!
I'm a rising junior who's been given the opportunity to intern in D.C. through my college's academic internship program during the fall or spring semester. I chose to go in the fall because it's midterm season and figured it'd best align with my ambitious energy, especially as I'm more of a Republican-leaning centrist and expect legislative gridlock in the spring.
However, for the past month, I've been questioning my decision. Recently, I've become the President of a small student org on campus and would essentially be resigning my post (one month into my term) if I chose to go in the fall. Additionally, I have a summer internship and would have to balance my search on the side.
My worry is not getting a prestigious enough internship to justify my resignation from my student leadership positions. Based on my conversations with the person who leads my internship program, it seems like it'd be easy for me to get on the Hill with my in-state reps (but the thing is they're all in safe districts, which discourages me because I feel like I want to work for a rep in a competitive district out of state or a top committee like Ways & Means).
Additionally, it doesn't help that I was deferred from the summer cycle and feel like I haven't "earned" my spot in D.C. because it seems like my program will take in anyone who applies for the fall or spring semester. And while I like the members in my cohort, it feels like none of them are making the same sacrifices that I'm making. I've heard people say that I should go to D.C. when it's most convenient, which would be the spring semester since I'd be willing to work for my in-state reps or any other chill opportunity. However, fall is the perfect moment for me since it's a high-stakes environment at a high-stakes time, which will fulfill my ambitions and prove myself to be a successful D.C. professional (especially when I wasn't able to go in the summer).
If anyone who's worked in D.C. during an election season or was in a similar situation has advice for me, I'd really appreciate it. I'm open to working in lobbying and think tank orgs if that seems more like a fit for me. I'm open to switching to spring as well, but I don't know, honestly. Also, please feel free to tell me if my expectations are too high (just trying to aim for a competitive experience since I know fall is less competitive).
TLDR: Decided to do a D.C. internship in the fall through an academic internship program cuz of my ambitions during midterm season but would be forced to sacrifice my student org president position and college representative seat in student gov. Don't know if sacrifice would be worth it and am contemplating going in the spring instead.