Q&A with Mike Gore, Western student and White House intern

Western Washington University student Mike Gore spent much of this past winter and spring as an intern at the White House (yes, that White House). Communications and Marketing intern Preston VanSanden conducted a brief Q&A with Gore on his experiences:

As a whole how would you describe your job and what you did?

As an intern in the Office of Communications, my job specifically was to assist the Specialty Media Director and Western Regional Director in accomplishing their duties. Specialty media includes publications and outlets that serve a diverse range of people - from the LGBT community to Veterans, and from Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to Senior Citizens. The White House works with these groups to represent them and collaborate with them to build a better Nation for everyone involved, and communicating through their respective media sources is a key part of this.

What was a normal day like?

Well, there really is no normal day in the world of communications at that scale. Most days, we assisted in general functions of the Office of Communications, doing things like routing calls from reporters, ensuring that emails got to the right people, as well as proofreading and editing whatever was on the table.

Things changed day to day, though. The State of the Union was wild, as were the rollouts of both common sense gun control as well as a much-needed overhaul of our broken immigration system. One week I will never forget was that of the tragic Boston Bombings. It was inspiring to see Americans coming together for a common cause, and to see the long hours that public servants of all levels - from first responders to lawmakers - put in to make our country safe.

What was the best part?

The best part was working hard with other people who had a dedication to public service. Many interns were talented and fascinating people, but the staff who work in the Office of Communications really were awe-inspiring. These people were tireless - working long hours in what is often a thankless, challenging job. Each of them were working hard because they loved it, and were doing so for a purpose that was higher than themselves. This was the best part - being opened to a career in public service. As a Boy Scout, I learned about the importance of helping others, but never really saw it as such a diverse and rewarding lifestyle as my time at The White House taught me.

Any fond memories?

There were a few times where I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming - watching the President give a speech in The East Room, or present the Medal of Honor to a veteran were things I found especially inspiring.

One time I laugh about - as does most anyone who knows me - is when I was mistaken for a Secret Service agent at the Easter Egg roll. Mostly, the memories I cherish most were working with an incredibly talented and dedicated group of interns and staff in the Office of Communications.

So how did you get that internship? Was it part of a specific program or contest?

The White House Internship Program is open to nearly all college students, and all you have to do is apply. The program is competitive, and you'll need letters of recommendation, a resume, a few essays, a memo, and about 20 short answer questions to apply.

Anyone with an interest in public service should strongly consider applying - there are internships in just about every office of The White House, and you will work with smart, diverse, and talented folks.

Were you actually working in the White House? Did you have an office?

I worked on the White House complex. Walking in the front gates off of Pennsylvania Avenue every morning was breathtaking. Even if it was before the sun came up, the reverence and respect for the Presidency and the history of The White House never got old. How could you not be inspired?

Meet any key figures?

Yes - the program featured a speaker series, where Administration officials would take the time to answer questions for the interns about their lives and careers. It was fascinating, and would always get me fired up. One thing you learn quickly is that many of the behind-the-scenes people have fascinating stories, are really good at their jobs, and work long very hours. These aren't people who are famous publicly but they really do keep The White House running by working on behalf of the American people.
As far as the key figures I found most interesting, I'd have to say there were three. One was Chris Lu, then the Cabinet Secretary. He is a man of incredible humility and service, who I really found to be a relatable and inspiring person. Another was the current Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough. His job is very stressful, but he seemed to be a genuine person with an ironclad work ethic and dry sense of humor. Finally, speaking with Press Secretary Jay Carney was an enlightening experience. As a Journalism major, his experience as a reporter as well as current role are fascinating and completely humbling. He's a man who has to speak for the President, and know every detail of the Executive Branch. He's a kind and hard-working man who does a difficult job very well.

Any good stories?

I've sure got some stories, but you'll have to catch up with me in person for those.