Monday, July 29, 2019
By:
The final days of the internship have arrived, and they are every bit as bittersweet as I imagined they would be.
I can’t wait to go home to my family, my boyfriend, and our dogs. I can’t wait to have a relaxing vacation at a lake and to go to Chile for a data science program. I can’t wait to be back in my townhouse at school where the floors don’t seem to attract dirt the way the floors in the dorms here do. I can’t wait to be back at school with my friends and to be able to drive my car. I can’t wait to have access to all of my cooking and cleaning supplies. I can’t wait to sleep in a bed that doesn’t stab me with springs every time I move. I can’t wait to do laundry without having to pay or be afraid that I’m going to drop my clean clothes on the sticky floor. I can’t wait to have a closet instead of a wardrobe. I can’t wait to drive home with my groceries instead of walking home carrying them.
On the other hand, I’m going to miss a lot of things about this summer. I’m going to miss doing crosswords, exploring the city, doing karaoke, watching movies, playing card games, and everything between with the other interns. I’m going to miss yoga and finding dairy-free food options with Meg. I’m going to miss the amazing vegan restaurants. I’m going to miss wandering over to Georgetown to look in the stores or going to Tonic to snack on some tater tots. I’m going to miss my mentor and coworkers, and I’m going to miss the fun, productive atmosphere of ACP. I’m going to miss having so many great conversations with physicists from diverse backgrounds. I’m going to miss our outdoor intern lunches. I’m going to miss going for runs around the National Mall. I’m going to miss having a Potbelly right downstairs and the convenience of the Metro. I’m going to miss the bucket hat fad and everyone’s enthusiasm for physics.
As we enter the home stretch, I am feeling very grateful for the experience I’ve had here. I haven’t heard of another opportunity quite like the SPS internship program, and I’m so glad I came across it online last December. I’ve learned more than I ever imagined I would, and I’ve most definitely gained a broader perspective of what it means to be a physicist.
Jacqueline Blaum