COVID-19 has changed the plans of many throughout the world. This is especially true for two Bluffton University students who had to return home from Washington D.C., ending their cross-cultural experiences earlier than they had expected.
Junior criminal justice majors Sienna Sullivan and Tajah Upshaw both participated in the Washington Community Scholars’ Center program. The two had been planning on going to D.C. together since their sophomore year. They moved in on Jan. 6. On March 14, Sullivan left D.C., returning to her home in Columbus, Ohio.
Junior criminal justice major Sienna Sullivan. Photo courtesy of Sienna Sullivan.
“My internship went to remote work and everything in D.C. shut down,” said Sullivan “Museums closed, my internship was canceled and therefore nothing was keeping me in D.C. anymore.”
On Jan. 15, Upshaw was told by WCSC staff that she had 48 hours to move out of the WCSC house. She said this left her without any formal closure with D.C., and without the opportunity to say proper goodbyes.
“It was very abrupt, rushed and a bit unexpected,” Upshaw said. “I had 48 hours to pack up everything in D.C., tell my internship that I had to leave and find someone to drive eight hours each way to pick me up and bring me back home.”
The two will be able to get credit for their internship and the classes they were taking. They take their classes remotely via Zoom, with a two hour class on Tuesdays and a four hour class on Thursdays.
“It really just isn’t the same,” said Upshaw “Without actually being in D.C. in person, there’s a disconnect.”
Sullivan said even though for the most part her internship was canceled, she’s able to do a small amount of work remotely for her internship, but because most of her work was hands-on, it’s difficult to do.
Upshaw has to write a 15-20 page paper to get her internship credit, which she said she feels isn’t a fair alternative and doesn’t compare to hands-on experience.
Both say their internship was their favorite part of the experience.
Sullivan’s internship was at the Office of the Attorney General of District of Columbia, where she worked with attorneys dealing with court, preparation for court and charging defendants with crimes.
Junior criminal justice major Tajah Upshaw. Photo courtesy of Tajah Upshaw.
Upshaw’s internship was at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, where she was an Intern Investigator in the Criminal Law Internship Program. She, along with two other interns, was responsible for various investigative tasks including serving subpoenas, locating and interviewing witnesses, taking statements, testifying in court and assisting attorneys with case development.
“I’ve been very interested in investigation, so it was a dream come true to be a mini-investigator for half a semester,” Upshaw said.
Sullivan said leaving D.C. and her internship was hard, and she’ll miss her internship the most, along with going to free museums and the beautiful scenery.
“I cried a lot and saying goodbye to my coworkers was tough,” Sullivan said. “Everyone was sad for me to go which made my heart happy but coming home was comforting. I would much rather be stuck inside with my family than 700 miles away.”
While Upshaw said she wouldn’t have gone to D.C. without Bluffton’s cross-cultural requirement, she’s glad she had the opportunity to step out of her comfort zone, be independent and gain more experience in her field.
“What I miss most about being in D.C. is the sense of independence, living in a big vibrant city, sight-seeing, the warmer weather, my friends and my internship–pretty much everything,” Upshaw said.
