Image by Jim Hunt
At the risk of losing my Gen-Z card, I’ll admit that on some days, when the never ending cycle of Instagram stories gets slightly repetitive and nonsensical, I’ll start my day with a leisurely scroll through the morning’s news on my iPad. On one of those mornings when I diverted from my usual routine of zombie-like scrolling through Instagram, I happened upon an article from Politico that caught my eye. The title read Never Say ‘Nice to Meet You’ and 27 Other Rules for Surviving in D.C., followed by an overt subtitle proclaiming, “We’re not here to make friends. We’re here to get a job.”
How perfect, I thought. As a new resident of Washington, this article would give me a few tips and tricks for the trade. So, I’ll save you the read and give you a quick synopsis. The article painted Washington as a conglomerate of networking representatives on Capitol Hill and hobnobbing bigwigs (what’s new?!). It lists Dos and Don’ts for surviving the politically crazed, power-hungry representatives and bureaucratic officials encompassing Washington. But, as I read through the stipulations of moving from the public to private sectors, how to separate my work and home phones, and the rules of how to treat congressional interns, I realized that this wasn’t an article about surviving in Washington, but rather one about surviving in politics. I know what you’re thinking, “Washington and Politics are synonymous!” Even so, as someone who doesn’t envision a future on the Hill, I’m here to remind Politico and my fellow GW students that there’s more to DC than the ballot box.
To be clear, I’m not discounting the political culture of DC, let alone GW. It doesn’t escape me that the constitution established the district in 1790 to serve as the nation’s capital. Many students flock to GW for its opportunities in international affairs and proximity to Capitol Hill. I, for one, came to DC excited by the prospect of being in a city that championed such extensive opportunities, especially as someone majoring in political science and minoring in communication and journalism. But, after reading Politico’s article, I’m forced to ask myself: Is it so wrong that I see my future in a newsroom and not as a lobbyist on K street? What about my friends majoring in engineering or environmental studies?
All this to say, I’m not bashing the persistent political culture of Washington but simply saying that there is more to the nation’s capital than learning how to behave at a White House press conference or lobby representatives. Last year, The Economist ranked DC as the second most liveable city in the United States using an evaluation system based on culture, infrastructure, education, healthcare, the environment, and overall stability. For a district praised for its liveliness, why do we still insist on defining it by its politics?
The urge to escape the politics of DC is not a novel concept. Popular sites like Buzzfeed and Travel Awaits are dying to provide readers with activities in Washington DC that don’t involve politics. So along with the guiding hand of these articles towards Washington’s non-political staples like the National Arboretum or the Wharf, I also have a few suggestions on finding a community for your escape from politics.
As a freshman, I’ve noticed that loneliness is a sickness that can strike hard and fast on a non-traditional campus such as GW. It’s easy to get stuck in your dorm, watching Foggy Bottom employees and flat-faced college students hustle along to their next class or meeting. It’s easy to feel like just another cog in the GW machine, alone on a campus where everyone seems to be doing their own thing, chasing their next internship or networking opportunity.
My best advice is to join a club. Bonding with others over shared interests has allowed me to nurture my passions for writing and reporting in a community that I can call my home-away-from-home. If clubs aren’t your scene, I implore you to venture outside the Foggy Bottom and GW bubble, and you might find your haven of escape from the blood-sucking political vampires. One of my favorite places to visit is Kramers in Dupont, whether to find my next book or share a pot of tea with my friends. Is it too cliché to point you in the direction of one of the many farmers and flea markets scattered around Georgetown or Adams Morgan? A simple outing could consist of taking in the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin or catching a show at the 9:30 club with some friends.
The rich culture of DC and its communities are vast and mustn’t be written off as secondary to the politics of Capitol Hill. I get it; DC is political in nature, but it doesn’t have to be the district’s be-all and end-all. It certainly won’t be for me.
Leave a Reply