Riding in a van in the New Mexico desert at the end of her college career ultimately led Scotty Bryan \u201923 to Capitol Hill and her new job as a congressional intern for U.S. Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr. of Georgia.<\/p>\n
After graduating in Spring 2023, Bryan had gone out west with the May Experience<\/a> class \u201cIndian Country: Indigenous Culture and Religion in the Southwest\u201d led by Danielle Vinson<\/a> \u201989, a professor of politics and international affairs, and Helen Lee Turner<\/a>, a professor of religion. It was \u201can incredible experience,\u201d said Bryan, an English major.<\/p>\n In the van during the trip, Bryan talked with Turner about her job application process and career goals. After the trip, Turner let the recent graduate know about an opening with the Baptist Joint Committee, a D.C.-based nonprofit that advocates for religious liberty and the separation of church and state.<\/p>\n \u201cI had not seriously considered D.C. or a position in a political area, but I decided to apply,\u201d Bryan said. \u201cI got the internship and accepted it. I cannot thank Dr. Turner enough for informing me of this opportunity and expanding my view of where I saw myself after college.\u201d<\/p>\n In the nation\u2019s capital, she expanded her professional network and enjoyed the legislative research and policy issues her internship exposed her to. She realized she wanted to intern on Capitol Hill and do more legislative work.\u00a0With family ties in Georgia, Bryan was familiar with Bishop, who has represented the state\u2019s 2nd congressional district since 1993.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing on the Hill often feels like an extension of the politics classes that I enjoyed at Furman,\u201d said Bryan, who began working for Bishop in January 2024. \u201cI love diving into policy issues and writing memos for the staff, as well as attending hearings and markups for legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n The internship has also given her a close-up view of the real-world impact of the work done in the House of Representatives. Seeing how grants and investments in energy efficiency or child development are improving lives in the rural communities in Bishop\u2019s district \u201cmotivates my work on the Hill,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Bryan often feels empowered to tackle difficult projects on Capitol Hill by remembering her English senior seminar with Jeanne Provost<\/a>, an associate professor of English, and her thesis advisor, Professor Willard Pate<\/a>, \u201cthe most challenging academic experience I have had,\u201d she said. \u201cI am grateful to Dr. Pate for encouraging me to be resilient.\u201d<\/p>\n Another key mentor was Margaret Oakes<\/a>, a professor of English who also has a law degree and a doctorate, and Bryan\u2019s advisor.<\/p>\n \u201cShe helped me feel confident in entering the workforce,\u201d Bryan said. \u201cThe first cover letter I ever wrote was in her class, and I have written many more since. Every time I walked into Dr. Oakes\u2019 office, I always left with a renewed sense of purpose. I chose the English major<\/a> solely because of my appreciation for literature, but she showed me that the skills I gained from studying English were professional assets.\u201d<\/p>\n Outside the classroom, Bryan\u2019s time as editor of The Paladin<\/a> student newspaper has carried over into her professional life as well. \u201cStudent journalism ingrained in me the instinct to seek out every angle of a story,\u201d she said, \u201cand I bring that same mindset to thinking critically about policy.\u201d<\/p>\n