When I first heard about The Washington Center I was immediately enthusiastic about their program, combining academic courses with an internship in the Capitol of the United States. This unique opportunity to gain both theoretical and practical knowledge is certainly one of the main advantages of the Washington Center. Being a master student in Communication Sciences, it was also very interesting to live in one of the biggest media-centered cities of the world. TWC offered us namely the opportunity to network with well-respected news organizations as The Washington Post and CNN through special organized luncheons and lectures. Besides that, the professors who gave our academic media courses had a lot of experience in the journalistic field. Exemplary in this case was Carole Feldman, our Media and Movies professor, who was already for several years a political journalist for the Associated Press. In addition, my internship with the American Public Broadcasting Service allowed me to learn more about the American approach towards public service broadcasting, an important topic in the media field.

Furthermore it is also interesting that the Washington Center focuses on leadership and civic engagement. By providing lectures, which teach students to see the bigger picture, TWC wants their students not only to grow professionally but also personally to become a better leadership figure. Besides that, I participated in the homelessness project where I cooked for the homelessness and joined a postcard campaign to decrease hate crimes. These were all unique experiences that taught me how to make a difference in life by helping others.

In short, The Washington Center clearly provides you with the opportunity to gain both professional and academic experience. Thereby the improvement of my English writing and speaking skills during this semester will certainly prove an asset in applying for future job positions.