Diana Eid is going places. Literally. Originally from Uganda, Diana moved to Lubbock where she attended LCU, majoring in Math. During the spring semester of her senior year, Diana relocated once again to Washington D.C., where she interned for Sindhi American PAC. There, Diana wrote letters, petitions, Facebook posts and emails, encouraged by her supervisor to jump in and take initiative in her position. As a result, Diana was challenged, pushed out of her initial comfort zone.  This internship helped Diana gain confidence in her writing and communication abilities, preparing her for the professional world. Currently Diana is studying for her M.A. in Math at Miami University in Ohio, where she was awarded Graduate Assistantship. Diana plans to move home to Uganda and teach Math after she finishes her education in the states.

Why did you choose to participate in LCU Washington?
I chose to participate in the internship program because I wanted to experience what it was like to live and work in the political capital of the US. I wanted to learn about the inner workings of humanitarian work – and understand the politics, so to speak, involved. I felt that I could best learn that in DC.

What surprised you about Washington as a city and as a location for an internship?
To be honest, I have traveled quite a bit and I find that I am not surprised by much – instead, I find new places fascinating. DC truly is the capital of the world, whether we care to admit that or not. There is a true sense of power and politics in the city. It felt like the perfect city for any kind of internship.

What became your favorite place in the city?
One of my favorite places was – and it’s sort of cliché- but Capitol Hill. Again, the sense of history around there, and just simply the beauty of the Capitol building took my breath away every time I walked by. A close second was Dupont Circle. It was neighborhood that seemed to be the hub for cultural diversity. It was always fun to walk down the streets and people watch!

What’s one of your favorite memories?
As part of my internship, I spent some time lobbying on Capitol Hill. Every day that I walked through the halls of the Senate and House buildings and even past the Capitol itself, I was overwhelmed by a sense that history was being made every day there. Being a part of the “moving and shaking” of the world was truly exciting!

Who impressed or inspired you the most while in Washington?
I was most inspired by the instructor of the evening class I took – Dr. Harmon. She was candid, thoughtful, patient, and nonjudgmental. My class was about citizenship in a multicultural society and Dr. Harmon modeled the lessons she taught.

Did you take a “Thursday Evening Class”, and if so, what was it like?
I loved my class! Even after a long day of work, it was still engaging and enjoyable. I learned a lot in that class and made some great friendships in there. The material was relevant and totally applicable.

Who was the most interesting person you met while in Washington?
I got to meet Khalil Jahshan, a former diplomat and the current director of Pepperdine University’s Washington Program. Since he is an Arab American, I was able to have a conversation with him and ask questions about identity and what it means to be a Palestinian Christian advocating for peace in the Middle East. I think speaking with him was by far the highlight of my time in DC.

What new skills did your internship teach you, or what abilities did it help you hone?
During my internship, most of what I did was write – I wrote petitions, newsletters, Facebook posts, and letters to Congressmen, etc. It’s funny because as a Math major, people often make cracks about the fact that Math people can’t write well. I believe I proved that theory wrong.  I’ve always enjoyed writing and during my internship, I was able to refine this and I learned to communicate in the professional arena. I also learned more about diversity and how to interact with people from different backgrounds.

Why would you recommend the Washington Program to others?
The Washington Program was an opportunity to learn more about who I am. I was able to really discover my strengths and weaknesses, as well as the things that I was passionate about. So in a nutshell, self-discovery would be the biggest reason to recommend the program.

Diana is a wonderful example of a successful LCU Washington Intern and we are so proud that she participated in our program. We wish her blessings as she continues her pursuit of knowledge and furthers her education.