After the fellowship

After a summer working inside a congressional office, Maxwell came away with a much more practical understanding of how Congress works. He saw how research, writing, and attention to detail can shape the decisions made in a congressional office, and he began to understand how those everyday tasks connect to the broader responsibilities of representing constituents.

One moment stood out early on: seeing a memo he had written sitting on the Member’s desk.

“The first time that I saw a memo I wrote on the Member's desk, I knew this was the real deal. There's something so incredibly motivating about knowing that your efforts are going towards making decisions that impact real people.”

He also became more comfortable with the everyday tools and routines of congressional work. Before the summer, he said the many menus on Congress.gov intimidated him. Now, he feels confident finding the information he needs.

Some of that confidence came simply from getting used to being in the environment. Maxwell recalled being asked to walk into committee hearings and meetings to hand the Member a folder or note.

“The first time I walked past a dozen Members took some ‘fake it ’til you make it’ energy, but I got used to it, and it became the new normal.”

Working inside a congressional office also changed how Maxwell thinks about the relationship between representatives and their constituents. He saw how easy it can be for an office to hear from certain groups more than others and then assume those voices reflect the broader district.

“I better understand just how easy it can be to generalize and assume that the folks on the phone are representative of the full district, or that the lobbyists can offer the full picture. Digging deep to find the average constituent is precisely as difficult as the literature would suggest.”

The experience also gave him a more personal view of elected officials. Despite the job's responsibilities, he said his conversations throughout the summer reminded him that Members of Congress are also thinking about everyday things like their families, sports, and lunch.

What is he taking with him?

Maxwell said the experience showed him how important it is to develop real subject-matter expertise and to be able to speak clearly and confidently about different issues.

He also sees a difference in the classroom.

“My classes are easier as the result of my lived experience, and I got the chance to speak with like-minded folks well into their careers. Their advice has been crucial.”   

His advice to students considering the fellowship is to find a way to spend a summer in Washington, whether through IDEA or another opportunity. 

And his one-sentence reflection on the experience:

“I found answers to questions that I wouldn't have even thought to ask.”

IDEA’s Summer Democracy Fellows program gives Ohio State students the opportunity to experience congressional work firsthand while bringing IDEA’s commitment to meaningful citizen-representative engagement into practice. Applications for the 2027 fellowship will open in the spring.