Life on the Hill Good for Michael Brazinski '14
Michael Brazinski '14 could feel the energy coursing through Washington, D.C., the night of the mid-term elections because he was there. Best of all, his boss won. Brazinski has been an intern in the office of U.S. Congressman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) since September. The Christ School graduate has gotten a taste of Capitol Hill and wants to stay. And who could blame Brazinski? In addition to working daily with the congressman, Brazinski has enjoyed some special privileges. When the Carolina Panthers were in town to play the Washington Redskins, it was Brazinski who gave a private tour of the Capitol Building to coach Ron Rivera. Last week, he was allowed on the rooftop to look out over the National Mall, the Pentagon, and Arlington National Cemetery. Brazinski graduated earlier this year from the College of Charleston with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Geography.
Question: I know this internship must be an incredible opportunity, tell me a little bit about it?
Answer: It's been really good. I've been able to do some really cool things. Just being on the Hill, getting your foot in the door, and being able to see how it operates. It's a really rare experience. A typical day for me is I come in, prepare the office, listen to voice-mails, answer the phones, take calls from our constituents, draft letters, and give tours of the Capitol. Any sort of duty that the staffers need me to do. I finish up in the third week of December, but I'm going to try and stay on the Hill. I'm applying for staff positions and about to start studying for the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations).
Question: What has it been like living in Washington?
Answer: Living in D.C. has been an amazing experience. There is a lot of diversity, which is awesome. I usually try to get to a museum every weekend and explore areas like Georgetown, Glover Park, and Arlington. It's a really amazing city and I'm just trying to see as much as I can. There is always something to do.
Question: What stands out about your time at Christ School?
Answer: The bonds that you make with the guys you're with last a lifetime. I'm still very close to so many of them. We talk all the time and try to see each other as much as possible. Miller Robinson '12 actually works right down the hall from me. We caught up and he has really helped me out in planning my future on the Hill. Greenies are willing to help each other no matter what the situation is. Hard work is another quality that I took away from Christ School. Whether it's on the (athletic) field or in the classroom, I still bring that mentality to every kind of life situation.
