It’s a long way from Hartsville, South Carolina, to Capitol Hill, but that’s where Hartsville native Moses Dixon has been spending a lot of time this semester.
Dixon, a senior at Howard University in Washington, D.C., is wrapping up a semester-long internship in the office of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He’s been working in Reid’s Washington office since early September.
“How did I get this internship? By the grace of God,” Dixon said.
He said he was encouraged to apply for the internship by a friend.
“It’s definitely not a typical internship,” Dixon said. He said he spends a lot of long hours doing research, answering constituent letters from Reid’s home state of Nevada and attending hearings.
“You work so hard, you almost feel like you’re on the staff,” he said. “It’s definitely a lot of work.”
Dixon said the internship has brought him into contact with quite a few congressional leaders, including Sen. John McCain and House Speaker Nancy Pelozi.
Last year Dixon completed an internship in the office of U.S. Rep. John Spratt, who represents South Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Hartsville.
On his first day on the job, Dixon was able to attend a congressional reception in the Rotunda of the Capitol building honoring the families of the victims of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
But Dixon said the internship experience has given him more than just an inside look at how the Senate works.
“Sometimes, I find myself coming in early and staying late, and I take those opportunities to pray for our nation,” he said. “I’ll walk the halls of Congress and just pray for the safety and security of our nation. I think God had a reason for leading me here, and that was to pray for our nation.”
Dixon will complete his internship in a couple of weeks. He said the experience is one he will never forget.
He’s also hopeful that he may get a semester-long internship at The White House beginning in January. He should find out about that this week, he said.
With graduation approaching, Dixon, who is majoring in political science and economics, is considering what his next move will be. He’s considering law school or graduate school with a focus on community development and planning.
He’s currently looking at different institutions and programs.
“It’s just a remarkable opportunity I’ve had to be in the midst of how critical decisions are made and how policy is carried out. I’m just blessed to be one of the few who’s had that opportunity,” Dixon said.
“It’s also given me the opportunity to see what a good, decent and honorable man Sen. Reid is. He’s an excellent leader for the U.S. Senate.”
Dixon is the son of Tammie Lisa Dixon and Rufus Cherry of Hartsville. He says his spiritual parents are Steve and Ginger Avant of Hartsville.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement