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A few years before Sarayu Cheemalapati started her internship on Capitol Hill, she was a shy student in her middle school’s Congressional Debate program. What started as an attempt to overcome her fear of public speaking became so much more — it pointed her toward a life of service.
While speech and debate sparked Sarayu’s initial interest in political science, a career on the Hill wasn’t a part of her plan. That is until she became Across the Aisle™’s first intern in our new program with the House Problem Solvers Caucus. This unique opportunity gives young public service-minded Americans a chance to see the Hill from both sides of the aisle. This semester, Sarayu has split her time between the caucus office and the personal offices of both U.S. Representatives Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).
Only a few weeks in, Sarayu’s work is already making an impact on her offices and the communities who rely on them.
Keep reading to learn more about Sarayu’s time on the Hill, the lessons she’s learned on bipartisanship, and her advice for aspiring public servants.
Making an impact
When you picture an intern, you probably imagine someone who grabs coffee, delivers mail, and runs errands for staff. While Sarayu has joined her fair share of office coffee trips, her day-to-day work also impacts the lives of millions of Americans.
On days in the caucus office, Sarayu attends briefings and meetings with stakeholders and congressional staff, tracks legislation introduced by the caucus’s almost 50 Members, and writes newsletters on caucus happenings. But one of her assignments put her work in front of Washington’s decision-makers.
“I had the ability to make [policy] one-pagers that were sent out to Member offices, caucus staff, stakeholders, and organizations,” Sarayu explained.
One-pagers are the bread and butter of policymakers in Washington, giving busy staff and offices a fast, easy way to understand an issue. Sarayu’s work has crossed the desks of some of the most influential players in Congress, including House leadership on both sides of the aisle.
“To know that my work is being seen by all of these important people — as an intern, it’s just amazing to see that people are caring about the work that you do,” said Sarayu.
On days in Reps. Suozzi’s and Fitzpatrick’s offices, her to-do list looks a little different. Answering constituent phone calls doesn’t get the attention of party leaders, but this quiet service matters just as much. Interns are the first voice a constituent hears when they pick up the phone to reach out to their Member of Congress to express their opinion on an issue or seek help with government services, such as emergency passport applications or tax return amendments. Fielding these calls isn’t always glamorous, but she’s serving an important function in the office.
“When working in public service, it’s about more than just yourself. The work you are doing isn’t just for you or your boss — it’s going to help people,” she said.
The power of everyday bipartisanship
If you're following the headlines, it would be easy to think Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill don’t talk to each other — but Sarayu says the opposite is true.
“Even though the news makes it seem like there are polar opposites on the Hill, there are still people interacting, and there’s friendship,” she explained.
Behind the scenes, she has witnessed staff from both parties foster lasting personal and professional relationships, despite their differing perspectives. And it hasn’t stopped there — by working for Members on both sides of the aisle, Sarayu is embodying this spirit of bipartisanship on a daily basis.
Bipartisanship on the Hill shows up in small, everyday moments that are the foundation for problem-solving and building a stronger future.
According to Sarayu, “Bipartisanship helps progress legislation on issues that actually matter — actually help Americans.”
Looking to the future
Most Capitol Hill interns don’t get a chance to see an issue from both sides, and the party they work for in their first job often shapes the rest of their career. Across the Aisle’s new partnership with the Problem Solvers Caucus breaks the status quo and gives young Americans a chance to explore their own beliefs while getting real Capitol Hill experience.
Sarayu applied because she was drawn to the idea of working with two Representatives, “who aren’t afraid to reach across the aisle and work on issues that matter to them.”
“I want to be able to understand different perspectives and learn how to find common ground…I want my career to be defined less by which party I am working for, but more by the issues I care about and the progress I’m making on those issues,” said Sarayu.
Being the first intern in a brand-new program was a risk, but it’s paying off for Sarayu by helping her shape her career in the way she wants.
“For young people [who] are looking at the state of the world right now, and they might not like something or they want to change something, they should just do it if they have the passion for it,” Sarayu explained.
Don’t wait to start your public service journey.
Want to take Sarayu’s advice, but don’t know where to start? We have an answer.
Since 2016, Answer the Call has been preparing the next generation of leaders in Washington with the tools they need to make a difference. To get started:
- Discover how the Answer the Call™ leadership program prepares future policymakers.
- Apply to join the next cohort of Answer the Call Ambassadors.
- Sign up for Free the Facts’™ biweekly newsletter to stay up to date with the latest from Washington.
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