2008 Woodie Awards
From the District: On a crowded train of isolation
Cassy Loseke
Issue date: 6/3/08 Section: Opinion
WASHINGTON - Three weeks ago, I moved to Washington, D.C.
As the airplane taxied through the runway and I captured a glimpse of the beautiful Washington Monument, I was ecstatic. I recognized that three months in my favorite city could hold life-changing moments.
I was going to have opportunities and experiences that I could never get in Omaha (indeed this is true - this week alone I will dine with Vice President Dick Cheney and meet Supreme Court Chief Justice Antonin Scalia).
Starting my internship at the National Journalism Center within a day of unpacking my clothes, I began to see that some things are different in Washington, unlike any other cities in the nation and especially unlike good ol' Omaha.
While walking to the metro from my condo (yes, I live in a condo) and waiting for the train to arrive, something jumped out to me among those commuting into the District: isolation.
The commuters buried themselves into their newspapers, magazines and, even worse, the work they took home with them to isolate themselves. Everyone seemed so caught up into themselves, it is as if they're trying to cut off the outside world around them.
It was almost as if these people were looking for answers to life problems by reading a newspaper or listening to blaring iPods. Perhaps they were looking for something bigger and better than themselves and searching for it through their careers.
Instead, they're losing themselves. I've been there, done that. Don't plan on that happening again.
A speaker from Concerned Women for America came and spoke to myself and 39 other interns with the program about Washington life. She warned us young professionals to make sure we knew what we were getting into and to prioritize our lives, aware of the sacrifices we could be making in the long run. She pointed out that most of the professionals are single, yet married … only to their careers.
It made sense. That's why the men and women never make eye contact on the train, refuse to practice patience and always seem in a hurry to get to their next destination, wherever that may be.
As the airplane taxied through the runway and I captured a glimpse of the beautiful Washington Monument, I was ecstatic. I recognized that three months in my favorite city could hold life-changing moments.
I was going to have opportunities and experiences that I could never get in Omaha (indeed this is true - this week alone I will dine with Vice President Dick Cheney and meet Supreme Court Chief Justice Antonin Scalia).
Starting my internship at the National Journalism Center within a day of unpacking my clothes, I began to see that some things are different in Washington, unlike any other cities in the nation and especially unlike good ol' Omaha.
While walking to the metro from my condo (yes, I live in a condo) and waiting for the train to arrive, something jumped out to me among those commuting into the District: isolation.
The commuters buried themselves into their newspapers, magazines and, even worse, the work they took home with them to isolate themselves. Everyone seemed so caught up into themselves, it is as if they're trying to cut off the outside world around them.
It was almost as if these people were looking for answers to life problems by reading a newspaper or listening to blaring iPods. Perhaps they were looking for something bigger and better than themselves and searching for it through their careers.
Instead, they're losing themselves. I've been there, done that. Don't plan on that happening again.
A speaker from Concerned Women for America came and spoke to myself and 39 other interns with the program about Washington life. She warned us young professionals to make sure we knew what we were getting into and to prioritize our lives, aware of the sacrifices we could be making in the long run. She pointed out that most of the professionals are single, yet married … only to their careers.
It made sense. That's why the men and women never make eye contact on the train, refuse to practice patience and always seem in a hurry to get to their next destination, wherever that may be.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
ljsmitty
Recently Denied
posted 6/09/08 @ 11:58 PM CST
Don't mean to be an ass or anything, but it appears that our editor is asleep at the wheel again...
I have always liked Cassy's articles, they are usually well written and insightful, especially when writing on student government. (Continued…)
Scott Stewart
posted 6/17/08 @ 1:32 PM CST
Personal comments aside, the Scalia thing distressed me when I read the above comment; it is, of course, correct. The Gateway printed a correction to this in today's issue, for what it's worth. (Continued…)
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