[[{“fid”:”118713″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_url[und][0][value]”:””,”field_folder[und]”:”1″,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”,”style”:””},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{}}]]On Wednesday, we headed to the Hill to speak to lawmakers about what they did over the summer recess.
Sen. Chris Murphy from Connecticut walked across the entire state of CT talking to constituents.
Rep. Eric Swalwell from California visited troops abroad and also found time to teach his new puppy how to swim.
[[{“fid”:”118715″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_url[und][0][value]”:””,”field_folder[und]”:”1″,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”,”style”:””},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{}}]]
Rep. Jim Himes held a forum on race relations, Rep. Sean Duffy met with constituents and ate a ton of Wisconsin cheese curds, and Rep. Bob Corker said he was just “proud to serve” this summer.
But when we asked our Snapchat followers what they did over their summer recess, we were blown away by their stories.
We could not have predicted all the incredible things our followers accomplished over the course of a couple months.
[[{“fid”:”118716″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_url[und][0][value]”:””,”field_folder[und]”:”1″,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”,”style”:””},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{}}]]
Luqmaan Bokhary, 16, created the first Young Muslim Democrats chapter in the nation, volunteered for local political campaigns in San Diego, and spoke to an audience of over 500 people about plans to counter bullying against Muslim students.
Annie, 18, traveled to Europe during the Brexit. She saw protests first hand and picked up lots of campaign memorabilia.
Adam Rhodes of Jacksonville, FL said that he played “Congressman Go.”
[[{“fid”:”118717″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_url[und][0][value]”:””,”field_folder[und]”:”1″,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”,”style”:””},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{}}]]
“It’s like Pokemon Go, but what political junkie teens do. You visit as many representatives offices as you can and collect autographs,” he said.
Alex, a 20-year-old student at Georgetown, played a lot of the real Pokemon Go throughout his internship on the hill and even taught the game to a member of congress.
Dominic Peacock worked some insane hours. He took on a part time job in order to pay for his unpaid internship and ended up working 60-75 hours per week.
[[{“fid”:”118718″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_url[und][0][value]”:””,”field_folder[und]”:”1″,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”,”style”:””},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{}}]]
Many of our followers attended the conventions.
Emily Fehsenfeld attended both conventions and snapped tons of pictures.
Josh Kohn, 14, attended the Republican National Convention and vlogged about it.
[[{“fid”:”118719″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_url[und][0][value]”:””,”field_folder[und]”:”1″,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”,”style”:””},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{}}]]John Connolly attended the DNC and met Broadway star and actress Idina Menzel and Charles Logan watched the balloons fall on Hillary Clinton this summer at the DNC.
While some were at the conventions, others were pulling long hours as interns.
Jackson Blackwell, 17, spent his summer interning for Sen. Murkowski’s campaign in Alaska.
[[{“fid”:”118720″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_url[und][0][value]”:””,”field_folder[und]”:”1″,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”,”style”:””},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{}}]]
Tona Campbell, a high school senior, volunteered for Hillary Clinton.
Keshav Kumar worked on the Jim Reed for Congress campaign in his home state of California.
Rose, a high school Junior, also worked for Reed for Congress as a field rep canvassing in 100 degree weather. She’s now running for Chair of California High School Democrats.
[[{“fid”:”118721″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_url[und][0][value]”:””,”field_folder[und]”:”1″,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”,”style”:””},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{}}]]
Jacob, a senior at Kewaunee High School in Wisconsin, volunteered for Mike Gallagher’s congressional campaign and got to meet Donald Trump along the way.
Bailey, 19, also volunteered for Mike Gallagher’s congressional campaign and attended Turning Point USA’s Young Women’s Leadership Summit in Dallas.
Holden Sczerba, 17, volunteered with the trump campaign before beginning his internship with the Republican party of Pennsylvania.
[[{“fid”:”118722″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_url[und][0][value]”:””,”field_folder[und]”:”1″,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”,”style”:””},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{}}]]
Lots of people’s adventures took them to Washington D.C.
Mitch Alexander, 19, said he spent his summer working to save money for a semester “abroad” in D.C. and just moved here last week.
Becca Bean, 17, advocated for girls’ education on the Hill.
[[{“fid”:”118723″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_url[und][0][value]”:””,”field_folder[und]”:”1″,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”,”style”:””},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{}}]]
[[{“fid”:”118725″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_url[und][0][value]”:””,”field_folder[und]”:”1″,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”,”style”:””},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{}}]]
Kiana, a high school student, came to D.C. to attend the High School Democrats of America Summit and got to pay a visit to the White House.
Joshua Dantzler also attended the summit and has since been named the National Press Director for the High School Democrats of America. He commemorated the experience by dabbing in the White House.
Virginia, 18, visited the Supreme Court with the High School Democrats of America and was there for this summer’s pivotal abortion ruling.
[[{“fid”:”118726″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_url[und][0][value]”:””,”field_folder[und]”:”1″,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”,”style”:””},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{}}]]
Those who didn’t make it to the nation’s capital still found ways to get involved in their home states.
Nate, 17, had an internship with the Michigan GOP and got to meet the chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party and the state’s Attorney General.
Teague, 18, interned for Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas.
[[{“fid”:”118727″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_url[und][0][value]”:””,”field_folder[und]”:”1″,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”,”style”:””},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{}}]]
Ryan Christens from Wisconsin attended Badger Boys State, a leadership and government camp, and met Gov. Scott Walker.
Several followers said that their experience in politics has led them to seek office of their own.
Anthony Luongo was elected to the executive board of High School Democrats of America and met Gov. O’Malley.
[[{“fid”:”118728″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_url[und][0][value]”:””,”field_folder[und]”:”1″,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”,”style”:””},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{}}]]
Cage Sawyers, 18, spent his summer volunteering for several state legislator campaigns across Texas and prepared to launch his own campaign for school board. He was also on the Students for Trump Texas team.
Thanks to all our followers who sent us their summer recess stories. Please Snapchat us anytime with your thoughts or feedback on our coverage on username @thehilldotcom.
[[{“fid”:”118730″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:””,”field_url[und][0][value]”:””,”field_folder[und]”:”1″,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”,”style”:””},”type”:”media”,”attributes”:{}}]]