Why Wake Washington?

by Sadie Rittenberry (’25)

There’s just one week until spring break, which means I’ve been in Washington, D.C. for seven weeks now. It’s been almost two months, but time has flown by! I can’t believe I’m almost halfway through the semester.

That being said, I wanted to share about my time with Wake Washington so far, and why with each week that passes, I am more and more grateful that I chose to take this opportunity. My name is Sadie and I’m a junior, majoring in Politics & International Affairs, from Tulsa, Oklahoma. I work at SelectUSA, a government program that is housed within the Department of Commerce. I work on the Communications & Outreach team, whose job is to communicate with the U.S. Cabinet members, Governors, and economic development organizations to facilitate foreign direct investment into the U.S.

Last semester, I studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, making this my second semester in a row away from campus. Now, a few people have called me crazy for spending so much time away from Mother So Dear, but I think it’s important to take advantage of all the opportunities that Wake Forest has to offer! I took advantage of the Wake Washington program because I was looking for answers. I wanted to know more about my career path post-graduation and where I’d want to start my life after college.

Once in D.C., I quickly learned that I wouldn’t find those answers here. Instead, I found a change in mindset. I’ve realized that, through talking to my coworkers at SelectUSA and Wake Forest alumni, there is no exact path to follow, like there is in high school and college. I’m learning that one career will take me to the next, that I should look out for the work I enjoy and the work I am good at, with no end goal in mind.

Wake Washington has opened my eyes to a whole new world of professional opportunities and what it’s like to live in a city as an adult, something I’ve never experienced before. In addition, I’ve found that I’ve been able to become more comfortable with myself and understand what my goals are. Sometimes, on campus, I feel it’s easy to get lost in the immediacy of it all. I’m concerned about my classes, weekend plans, housing registration, and whatever else may be on the docket for that week. Here in D.C., through my internship, our classes, and our Friday activities, I’m able to think about the bigger picture. Every day, I discover a new career path, one I didn’t even know existed and I get excited about the future.

For example, a few weeks ago, our cohort had the opportunity to privately tour the Library of Congress (LOC) and speak with Ryan Ramsey, a Wake Forest alumni who serves as the LOC Chief of Staff. Ryan told us about how he got his start in D.C., through a fellow Deac. He’s held several different positions in various administrations before the LOC. We were able to ask him questions about his career journey and he offered his advice about finding your niche: be a lifelong learner.

In that same sense, I was fortunate enough to visit the Oklahoma Governor’s Office at the National Governors Association here in D.C. with SelectUSA. This experience was special for me because I watched Oklahomans advocate for our state at a national level, something I had never seen before.

Through alumni talks and mentor relationships, we connect with Wake Forest alumni on our concerns outside of the professional world, about what it’s like to live in Washington D.C., how to manage your budget, and how to create a healthy work-life balance.

All in all, Wake Washington has taken me on an excellent trial run for adulthood and I’m excited for the lessons that the next eight weeks hold!