EARTH DAY NETWORK
Robert J. Van Alstyne

A student from Syracuse University in New York, Robert Van Alstyne majored in both political science and history. He was a former Advanced Placement Scholar with Honors who traveled to Iceland, England, France, Canada, and Mexico as well as across the United States where he became interested in environmental issues. Robert worked in the past at Montgomery County Department of Recreation, Bethesda Country Club, and Best Buy. He belonged to Theta Chi Fraternity. Rob applied to the Washington Internship Program relatively late in mid April, and within one month WIP placed him at Earth Day Network on P Street, N.W. where he worked from June through August while living at home in Potomac, Maryland. Robert found his internship eye-opening in many respects as he describes below:      

“This summer I was an intern at Earth Day Network where I learned a great deal about life and my future through this great opportunity. The most important thing I learned all summer was how to be more responsible and act like an adult at all times. Working in an office full of professionals made me a better person, and I realized that I still have a great deal to learn in all aspects of life.”
 
“Earth Day Network taught me that I really am not an environmentalist but that I am more liberal than I previously believed. The office atmosphere was one of great disdain for President Bush, which suited me just fine. However, many staff members and interns were even more liberal than I – a fact I found fascinating. I worked in Dupont Circle, and a substantial number of my co-workers were homosexual, which was a new experience for me. I used to think that being among gay individuals might bother me, but it did not affect me at all. Most of the work I did this summer was fairly interesting. We were asked to complete a report detailing the environmental health of seventy major cities across the country. My task was to compile information and conduct interviews with officials in many of these cities. I often had difficulty reaching these people, but I enjoyed being given significant responsibility. Many interns who are not in a formal structure like the Washington Internship Program get stuck stapling papers or sending faxes all day; by contrast, I had an office with a window and a nice chair. My placement was quite flexible in terms of the hours I worked, and my boss was outstanding. She was always willing to answer questions and provided me with a great deal of assistance whenever I had a problem. The other employees were equally accommodating and helpful. Overall, I really liked this office, and it was definitely a positive experience.”

 “The Washington Internship Program was quite useful for me this summer. Living just outside Washington, I unfortunately did not utilize all of WIP’s amazing resources since I already had a fairly complex life in this area. However, every WIP event I attended taught me a great deal. The classes on Thursday nights at Georgetown University and throughout the city helped me think about my future. The weekend retreat at Wintergreen Resort in the Blue Hills Mountains of Virginia was absolutely fantastic, and I learned a lot in all the group sessions. I had a great time – including playing poker all night in one of the big homes where we came together for speakers and fun. The great thing about the program was that everyone was so smart and successful, and learning how they accomplished their goals was truly inspiring for me. I really had a great time with my internship this summer, and all of the people I met were inspiring. I would like to thank you all for this opportunity. I truly had a great summer in the Washington Internship Program.”
                                                        
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