Article by Liz McCue
Like many college students, 91æģ²„ first-year Johnathan Schmidt applied for an internship ā an opportunity to work, learn and gain new experiences. During summer 2024, heāll be matched to an open internship in Washington, D.C. through the Fund for American Studies (TFAS).
āI donāt know where the internship is yet,ā Schmidt said.
But thatās one of the benefits of TFAS for participants. The program has connections throughout DC that enable students to access internships within their areas of interest and skills. Another perk is taking six credits of coursework through George Mason University.
Schmidt knew he had to apply when he received an email with the subject line ājust in case youāre interestedā from Dr. Mark Orsag, professor of history. He hopes to become a rural lawyer after attending law school, and the TFAS program would help him gain knowledge and skills to support that goal.
But at the time of applying, Schmidt was missing one detail. And it wasnāt until later, after completing the application, an interview and enrollment in the program, that he learned that detail, during a conversation in the Academic Affairs office this spring.
Schmidt, Orsag and Becky Klein-Hunke, assistant dean for Academic Affairs, were figuring out how the GMU courses would transfer to his 91æģ²„ history degree, when āthe gravity of the situation hit,ā Schmidt said.
āThatās when I learned I was the first [91æģ²„] student to receive this, to get accepted into the program,ā he said.
While itās not unheard of for first-year students to participate in the TFAS summer program ā itās not typical. Most participants are sophomores or juniors, some seniors. The minimum age to participate is 18 and Schmidt doesnāt actually turn 19 until the day before the program wraps on July 26.
The rigor of the program requires first-years to have āboth outstanding academic records and good time-management skills,ā according to the TFAS website.
āThis opportunity just seemed to fit him in terms of his academic track record, adventurous spirit and ability to, proverbially, āseize the bull by the horns,āā Orsag said.
Schmidt balanced academics, forensics (competitive speech) and throwing for the track and field team while at Hastings High School. He swapped collegiate forensics for joining the staff of , 91æģ²„ās student-run newspaper.
The initial application includes sending a resume, writing two short essays and a writing sample, followed by an interview if the written materials are accepted. Dr. Orsag helped him narrow down which writing sample to include of his many articles, editorial columns and essays from classes.
Once in D.C., Schmidt and the other TFAS participants will stay in residence halls at George Washington University, close to downtown and some of the nationās most hallowed museums and monuments.
āThatās honestly going to be my favorite part is just seeing all of that history there,ā Schmidt said.
Between his internship, classes and activities and excursions planned by TFAS, though, heāll have a packed schedule. So much so, the program actually includes a disclaimer that participants wonāt have much time to reach out to family or friends, he said.
Not that itās going to stop him.
āIām looking forward to learning the Metro system,ā Schmidt said, for any destinations beyond walking distance.