21 May 2019: When Jarred Synnott decided to step out of his comfort zone, it was in thousand league boots.
Embarking on a journey of just over 15,000km in December 2018, the Bachelor of Communication in Public Relations student at the University of Canberra found himself at the heart of the mighty American political system – Washington D.C.
Washington made an impression from the get go. “Like so much else about the US, everything seemed larger than life, grandiose and imposing,” Mr Synnott said.
“I had built it up in my mind – Hollywood had built it up – what this experience would be like,” said Mr Synnott. “But the reality completely surpassed it. The US Capitol is probably the most beautiful building I’ve ever been in.”
Gazing across the marbled Greek revival splendour of the National Statuary Hall; travelling to Gettysburg, the backdrop for the turning point of the American Civil War; standing on the steps of the White House, the residence of every US President since 1800 – they’re all in Mr Synnott’s memories, as a participant of the last round of the Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program (UCWIP).
“I’m really proud to count myself among the 12 students who went on this trip,” Mr Synnott said. “And while I was initially very nervous, I’m so glad I did it.”
Created in 1999 in by American Eric K Federing AM – a former senior Congressional advisor – the annual two-month internship program was open to students from just nine Australian universities.
They were matched with personal and committee offices in the US House and Senate, giving them an unmatched insider view of American policy and politics. In its 20-year history, it saw 223 students participating; the 2019 instalment was the UCWIP’s final run.
Finding the right fit for each intern was crucial to the success of the program, and Mr Synnott found his perfect placement in the office of Democratic Congressman Mark DeSaulnier of California.
Mr Synnott and Democratic Congressman Mark DeSaulnier of California, in whose office he interned under the UCWIP program. Photo: Jarred Synnott
Mr Synnott found the Congressman engaged and inspiring. Getting a chance to sit down with him to “talk about anything and everything, even the meaning of life” was a highlight.
Mr Synnott commenced his communications studies in 2015 to complement a Bachelor of Business Administration, with which he graduated from the University in 2016.
For much of his studies, he’s been a full-time public servant, working in various roles at the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
“The internship saw me doing everything from writing briefings for the Congressman to researching legislative opportunities,” he said. “Basically, I spent about 40 days in his office and had 40 different experiences.
“We got to watch people like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren walk in for the State of the Union (SOTU) Address, the annual message delivered by the US President to a joint session of Congress, from a balcony overlooking Statuary Hall. Witnessing the SOTU, from inside the Majority Whip’s office, was the overall highlight for me.
“My daily experience was so varied. One of my roles was to drop off Bills to be considered by Congress – for an Australian in the US, that’s a pretty crazy opportunity!”
Mr Synnott spent a lot of time talking to the Congressman’s constituents, which peeled back the layers on both the similarities and the differences between America and Australia.
He finds that the experience gave him a fresh, wider perspective into his own country as well, particularly in the sense of how Australia fits into the rest of the world.
“We’re in a pretty interesting position, close military and cultural allies with the US, economic allies with China and a growing part of our local Asia-Pacific community,” he said.
Mr Synnott at the podium of the UN General Assembly. Photo: Jarred Synnott
“The access that we had within the Capitol as a result of being on this program was amazing,” Mr Synnott said.
“It meant that on our lunch breaks, we could easily visit the Capitol rotunda, or read about the history of the Capitol in the Library of Congress. And while I’ve grown up watching TV shows like The West Wing and House of Cards, our visit to the White House took us to the East Wing, the side you don’t really see on TV.
“Apart from the formal internship program, we also had a peripheral program which included a private tour of the United Nations headquarters in New York, headlined by a discussion with Australia’s Ambassador to the UN, Gillian Bird PSM.
“Going on the UCWIP program has been one of the best experiences of my life, and I couldn’t have done it without the help I received at UC – I feel really lucky to be at an institution so committed to supporting my individual journey,” Mr Synnott said. “I extended my degree to do this internship, and I know it was the right choice.”
The experience has both challenged and changed him.
“I’m more outgoing now as a result of it, more willing to seize opportunities and see them through,” Mr Synnott said. “Participating in the UCWIP program has also definitely cemented my desire to work in the international arena.”
To read a personal account of Jarred Synnott’s UCWIP journey, click here.
