Richard Sun: White House Intern

Name: Richard Sun
Claim to fame: White House Intern
Year: 2013
School: Columbia College
Major:  Economics and Sustainable Development

How did you get your internship at the White House? 
I applied! It’s a relatively straightforward process. You need to send in a resume, two essays—one a policy memo, and the other a personal statement on your commitment to public service, and three letters of recommendation. I had two phone interviews and went through a background check. You can apply here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/internships/apply

What was your official title? 
My title was “White House Intern,” it meant that I was in the “White House Office” which is a subcomponent of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, the federal agency tasked with serving and staffing the President.

What did your duties include? 
Within the White House Office, I was in the Office of Management & Administration—specifically White House Personnel. It’s a difficult role to describe—the corollary to the private sector would be human resources or general management, but due to the nature of the institution and people involved, the role was a little different. 

I helped draft memos, organize programs such as the speaker series, the Public Service Leadership Program, and the Professional Development Groups program for the entire intern class. I was also tasked with leading various special projects.

How did you justify taking a semester off? 
It was definitely a tough decision to spend a semester away from Columbia. I studied abroad in London the previous summer, so the semester in DC was the equivalent to the time I would have otherwise spent abroad. The downside to going to DC was that I didn’t get academic credit for the internship, which really just means I have to take a few more required classes and skimp on some of the “fun electives” each semester between now and May 2013. For me, the opportunity to intern at the White House was an honor and privilege that I couldn’t pass up.

What were the other interns like?
My fellow interns made up really diverse and interesting group of people. There were students who were veterans of the Armed Forces, people who just finished graduate school, and people who did the internship as part of a clinic for law school. Many of the other undergraduate students were participating in the internship through their school’s “Semester in DC” program. Columbia doesn’t have a program like that, but I think it’d be a great way for students to have amazing opportunities and experiences in DC. 

What, if any, perspective did you gain by being away from Columbia for a semester?
Working long hours in a high pressure environment really taught me the importance of team dynamics and working towards a common goal. Working at the White House was definitely an emotional roller coaster but I learned a lot, both about the job and about myself along the way. 

The biggest takeaway I gained from the White House Internship was a deeper love and appreciation for public service and the genuine desire to improve the lives of others that my colleagues displayed on a daily basis.

How do you see your internship helping you in the future?
It really showed me the importance of public service – how real people are affected by the work that the government does; what it means to organize and what it means to inspire. The experiences and lessons I gained from the internship are ones that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

What do you want to do post-graduation?
I’m committed to a career in public service. I’d like to first work at the local level to get the most of the personal engagement and human aspect of service which I found both incredibly inspiring and meaningful. I think Mayor Cory Booker in Newark, NJ is doing some pretty exciting things and really shifting how people approach Newark as a city. He’s someone that really inspires me and whom I’d love to work for.  

How was DC different from NYC?
I’d say that NYC is a very international town, while DC is a very “national” town, in the sense that just as you’ll meet people from every country and of every culture in the world in New York, you’ll meet people from all over the United States in DC. DC is a much smaller and more intimate town. Both are very vibrant towns with lots of culture and lots of great sights and museums. I was born in New York City so I have a natural bias towards it, but DC is definitely a place I’d like to go back to one day.

Hometown: Summit, NJ

Relationship Status: Single

On-Campus Activities:  University Senate-Student Affairs Committee, Community Adviser of Schapiro, Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity

Off-campus activities: I’m involved with public service projects in my hometown of Summit, NJ. I help out with special projects with the city’s Environmental Commission and Recycling Advisory Committee, which I was a member of in high school. I also mentor high school and college students who intern with the City’s Department of Community Services as well as younger guys in my old Scout Troop in Summit on the importance and virtues of public service. 

Favorite class you’ve taken at Columbia and why: Last fall, I took a class called Economic and Financial Methods to Sustainable Development. The material was all information I had seen separately at some point in my economics classes and my sustainable development classes, but the professor really helped me see the connection between the two fields and has really helped guide my intellectual growth and thought process. I still meet with the professor about once a month to share thoughts and ideas with him.

Pet-Peeves: Long-elevator rides, spending too much time getting from Point A to Point B (I love long quiet walks, just not when I am in a rush.)

Dream Job: Anything where I could challenge myself intellectually and actively make a meaningful impact on people’s lives.

If you were stuck on a deserted island, you would need: I’d play it by ear; Robinson Crusoe is one of my favorite novels.

Every guys needs these three things in his closet: A pair of Allen Edmonds, a jersey or a hoodie repping their school/team, and a navy blazer.

Your perfect date in 7 words or less: As long as we had fun.

Favorite off-campus location: Washington Square Park.

Favorite thing about NYC: The diversity of thought and experience.

Spirit Animal: Lion.

Dream wife: Smart. Confident. Exceptionally kind. She makes me laugh, she makes me think, she makes me cry.

One thing you want to do before graduating: Too many things. 

Top three songs of all time: “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey, “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi, and “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.

If you could have a super power what would it be and why: I’d be able to create more time. If you think about it, time is our most valuable resource. I’d want more time to meet people, go places, catch-up with friends, and pretty much anything else we find ourselves skipping out on because we’re “too busy.”

If you could invite anyone to dinner, you would ask: The real life version of Russell Crowe’s character in Gladiator.

HamDel decides to name a sandwich after you (what’s it called and what’s in it): The Sunshine. Its an egg and cheese sandwich on sourdough bread. It brightens hungry people’s days.