Farewell DC: End of Internship Letter

It is within the last day of my internship that I made a monologue on a sheet of paper, which I then was to convert into a farewell speech to my colleagues within my office at the Department of State. I am happy to have shared these moments throughout the last 10 weeks of progressing who I am as a person, and look at these experiences as times of exponential accomplishment and growth.

I would like to show within these next lines, my closing remarks to those I have worked closely with, and proclaim my gratitude to those I have had the pleasure of meeting. Without further ado, my End of Internship Speech:

“First off, I would like to thank everyone that I have had the pleasure of being able to grow with throughout my time here at the State Department. Though 10 weeks seems minimal, and the effects might not, at surface level, appear to signify some great change, I can say with confidence that over the course of these last week’s here in DC and at the State Department, I have felt as though I have grown as an individual. It is with reluctance that I must leave the office, but though I am leaving physically, I am taking with me the knowledge of the State Department, its importance, and appreciation for the work that each one of you do.

It goes without saying that the responsibilities that everyone holds shines a greater hope in the benefit of the United States, and the world. The work done within the State Department is selfless in its nature and pursues the foundations of greatness that can sometimes only be silently cheered for, as you all are the influential background actors effective in essentially saving the world, or making even just a piece of it, a little bit better. I am not sure how often recognition for your actions is commended outside of the workplace, but it is a pleasure to have witnessed the effects of how important it is for cohesiveness and teamwork to persevere in times of necessity. With global communication between governments, institutions, organizations and key political figures, the work consistently accomplished here is a shimmering tribute to the devoted lives you all have committed to as civil servants.

I would like to say that these last 10 weeks have been times of trial for me as I navigated my way through uncertain waters. What I would like to take a moment for, is to say that if it wasn’t for the personality of each of you, I wouldn’t have been able to pick up pieces of valuable lessons that I can continue to refer to later in life. Life is not meant to be solely bountiful in joy and confidence in one’s abilities. For growth, one must overcome feelings of failure, to either be motivated or decimated by it. This difference separates those willing to learn, and those satisfied with complacency. There were times where my personal feelings of doubt weighed upon me, but it was within moments of tribulation that I was able to test myself to see just how resilient I was to these problems. It was within these moments that I began to learn about truly what I am capable of, and I thank you all for that patience and guidance, and for giving me a chance to prove to you and myself, that growth is imminent.

Finally, I would like to appreciate the knowledge I have gained about myself, and the spirits of which I plan to take with me as my journey continues to propel me in directions I never previously considered. The lessons I have taken from this internship is reminiscent of a great quote from the great Stoic, Seneca, while I wrap up my monologue that reflects that, “Where you arrive does not matter so much as what sort of person you are when you arrive there, and the person you became having left.” With this, I wish to arrive to every destination a better person, having learned to enjoy the journey.  Thank you for your time, and for finding in me a better piece of myself.”

And with this, I leave the State Department with new strides in the benefits of my life, and possibilities that I was oblivious to prior. I am eager to see what unfolds within the next few years. I am searching, like an explorer in chase of the Holy Grail, on a crusade of happiness and fulfillment. Only time will tell where I find it.