Predictably, my most exciting and valuable learning experiences took place outside of the classroom and the office during my time in Washington. This week was a perfect finale, as I was able to attend a March on Washington on Monday and lobby Congress with DC Vote on Tuesday. Politics is life in Washington, and the vibrant political scene this week will leave me with many fond memories of my experience here.

This Monday the Supreme Court heard two cases about school integration programs, one in Jefferson County, KY, and one in Seattle, Washington. Proponents praise the districts for creating voluntary and locally-controlled programs that have been effective in integrating the public schools. Those who oppose the programs say they are a form of illegal reverse discrimination; while those in favor argue they follow in the Brown v. Board of Ed tradition and are a legal and necessary means of integrating our schools and ultimately our society. How the Supreme Court decides this constitutional question is crucial to the future of such programs nationwide, which is why thousands of students, activists, and community members rallied in favor of the Seattle and Louisville programs.

Tuesday I joined the efforts of the DC Vote Coalition in an attempt to bring H.R. 5388, a bill to give residents of Washington, DC a voting member in Congress, before the House floor. I was amazed that we were able to simply walk into the Capital and talk to Congressional staffers without appointments, security clearances, or the like. Though the bill was not passed in this week’s lame duck session, the opportunity to lobby was an empowering lesson about the democratic process and our role in it.

School integration and the DC Vote raise a variety of challenging questions about education, segregation, and fundamental notions of equality in this nation. There are legitimate arguments on both sides of these debates. However, the real lesson of the rally and lobby visit for me was that it takes time, effort, and action to get educated on the issues and do something about the ones that you feel passionate about. Without this initiative, we cannot have deliberative debates on these tough policy questions, and democracy cannot be a viable and sustainable form of government. Whether it is visiting the Hill to talk to your representative, picketing outside the Supreme Court, or simply signing onto an email to express your views, we all have the right and the responsibility to do what we can. This is what government of, by, and for the people is all about.