The Girl's Guide
Issue 85: Got Intern Advice?
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Got Intern Advice?
“Washington, DC, doesn’t have normal seasons — instead of fall, winter, spring and summer, we have election season, Christmas party season, cherry blossom season, and intern season. The latter is upon us.”
So began my first advice post for summer interns back in 2021. Now my annual intern advice post is back and better than ever, if I do say so myself. Keep reading for this year’s word to the wise.
Before I started my first job in DC, a friend a few years ahead of me gave me this advice: don’t burn your bridges. The advice seemed slightly ominous at the time — how was I, a 20-year-old wannabe journalist, even capable of having any bridges to burn?
But I think if you turn this advice on its head, it becomes a lot more helpful. Instead of being afraid to burn bridges, think about how you can build bridges — bridges, in this context, being strong relationships with other people. You’d be surprised at how many successful people in DC first arrived as starry-eyed interns. They plugged in with their fellow college kids, kept in touch, and now those friendships that they thought would only last a summer have lasted 20 years. They’re the ones making important decisions in this town, and now they go to each other with real problems and projects instead of the ones they dreamed of as recent grads.
The executives and principals of today were once entry-level staffers who were able to build bridges with their peers and help each other rise to the top. As you intern or start working in DC, remember that. The seemingly insignificant social gatherings or deep conversations you have this summer may have a lot more significance down the line.
So find your tribe this summer. Work hard, but have fun too. You’re going to need relationships with good people — people you can trust — to make a difference in DC. Stay out late every once in a while. Reach out to someone to get to know them better. Be intentional about who you spend your time with. Before you know it, you’ll be running this place.
I'd like to feature YOUR thoughts in the next newsletter — do you have intern advice to share? Send it to me by replying to this email.
Interview with Sarah Weaver
I’m excited to introduce y’all to Sarah Weaver, who recently traded in city life in DC for country life in Michigan! You might recognize her from this viral post announcing her engagement! Connect with Sarah on Twitter and Instagram, and read her writing here.
What was your favorite and least favorite part of living in DC?
I’m a country girl through and through, so living in a busy city like Washington, DC wasn’t my absolute favorite, but it was also totally worth it. I met so many amazing people and made sweet, lifelong friends. I’m really glad I gave this city a chance! Besides the amazing “based” people I met here, I loved gala season and you really can’t beat golden hour at the monuments.
What does your life look like right now?
I’m still working as a reporter at the Daily Caller, but virtually from Michigan as of a couple months ago.
My life has been very peaceful and exciting of late. I love being back in the country, and getting to see my fiancé every day (we dated long distance for a year when I was in DC). We’re planting a garden this year, and plan to slowly grow our little farm in Southwest Michigan over the coming years. I’m so excited to be back in the rural midwest, and can’t wait to marry the love of my life in October!
What's your advice to a young woman (or man) who wants to work in media?
If you want your weekends and holidays, don’t pick journalism. There are plenty of jobs out there (even in DC) that won’t bother you on the weekends for non-emergencies, that will give you MLK Day and Flag Day off, and that will respect a nine-to-five work cycle. Journalism is not one of those jobs.
What’s the best piece of relationship advice you’ve ever received?
“Trust your instincts.” In my experience, women have very good instincts when it comes to men. In my own cases and in that of female friends, when a relationship goes south or a guy “turns out bad,” we actually knew all along, we just told ourselves everything was okay. The red flags are generally there all along, but the initial thrill of a new relationship can blur their existence for a time.
Do you have any beauty or health products that you swear by?
There a couple beauty products I have used for years, with no plans to stop. Tarte Shape Tape Concealer and L’Oreal mascara are two of my go-to makeup products. I keep my skincare simple, after a freak acne breakout a few years ago demonstrated to me the hard way that “less is more.”
Morning and night I wash with CeraVe facial cleaner, I use Aveeno moisturizer with SPF in the mornings, and CeraVe PM moisturizer at night. I’m flirting with the idea of beef tallow moisturizer, but haven’t made the jump quite yet.
But the most consequential things I can do for my beauty routines are what I eat and the kind of lifestyle I lead. The biggest improvements in my physical appearance I have noticed when I’m consistently eating vegetables, red meat, and getting plenty of sunshine and exercise. Nature is the best beauty store.
The Haps
Do You Really Want a Capsule Wardrobe?
I interviewed personal stylist Carla Nelson of A Creative Cliche about what most women get wrong about their style. We talked about everything from the capsule wardrobe craze to knowing your body type for this Evie Magazine exclusive. Read it here.
Secret Service vs. Pizza Dough Thief
A Northwest DC intersection was covered in pizza dough after a truck thief ran into a Secret Service officer’s personal car. The pizza dough truck overturned, and while the suspect was taken to the hospital in stable condition, the Secret Service officer was uninjured. Read more here.
Here are more links to what I’ve been reading lately:
How 'cyborg feminism' confuses technology with women’s progress: Madeline Fry Schultz interviews Mary Harrington about her new book Feminism Against Progress.
Utah bereavement author charged with husband's murder: Umm, this story is wild.
Everything Mommyhood
I’m very excited to share that I’m now contributing to Everything Mommyhood, a blog run by my friend Janessa Solem of Thrifty Nifty Mommy. Give us a follow on Instagram and Facebook, and read my first post here!
