Thanks to the generosity of GW alums, the Department of Political Science was able to support two students attending the DNC and RNC conventions. We asked Sandra and Kieran to reflect on their experiences.
My Experience at the DNC: Sandra Ochoa
Last December, like most people, I laid out my goals and resolutions for the upcoming year. With the 2024 election coming up, I knew I wanted to be as involved as possible now that I had the connections, tools, and resources to do so as a 2nd year political science student. One of these goals was to attend the Democratic National Convention. I remembered watching the last few conventions on the couch with my dad and thinking about how that room, those people, and the entire world of politics and government had seemed so far away at the time.
As a first generation college student, I am no stranger to having to figure things out on my own. So when it came to figuring out how exactly I was going to get to the convention, I was ready to do the work. After some research, I learned that these conventions rely on thousands of volunteers to do everything from directing guests to chauffeuring cars for VIPs. In the coming months, I reached out to people working for the Convention Committee and was able to connect with the Director of Digital Strategy. She promised to help me secure a volunteer role on the digital team. It was up to me to get to Chicago and cover travel and accommodation. With the cost of hotels and flights that week, I knew I wouldn’t be able to cover it without some support.
Throughout my time at GW, I’ve seen how committed professors are to student’s success. I know that the school places an emphasis on experiential learning and connecting students to invaluable professional experiences, so I decided to reach out to the Department of Political Science.
Thanks to support from GW I was able to attend the convention this past week. The four days in Chicago were unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Of course, I’ve learned plenty about past political conventions. I’ve seen the footage of the delegates with their signs eagerly nominating a new candidate - but to actually be there was something beyond what I could have imagined.
I served as a volunteer on the digital team, helping out with their content creator program. I got to be in the United Center, guiding content creators to the various lounges and dedicated spaces for them throughout the venue. In the process, I not only got to see how these creators covered the convention for their TikTok and Instagram audiences, but I got to run into quite a few pretty cool people. At the end of the night, with my volunteer credentials, I got to go upstairs and grab a seat to watch the last few speeches of the night as dozens of politicians endorsed the first woman of color to ever lead a major party presidential ticket.
One speech that I felt particularly lucky to get to watch was AOC’s. As an immigrant myself, with parents that have worked very hard to give me the opportunities that I have, it was so special to watch AOC pay tribute to the millions of working class and immigrant Americans that keep this country going. To be in that arena while the crowd roared as she said “To love this country is to fight for its people, all people, working people, every day Americans like bartenders and factory workers, and fast food cashiers who punch a clock and are on their feet all day” was a moment I’ll never forget.
In the mornings and afternoons, before my convention shifts, I kept busy making the most of my time in Chicago. I did a few volunteer shifts at Raben's Democracy House and helped out with their panels. I chatted with the attendees, who all worked in politics in one way or another but had taken vastly different paths to get there. I met a few attendees who had started out with internships on Capitol Hill, some who had gotten their foot in the door by doing field work for a campaign, and one man told me about how he got a job in a mailroom that eventually led him to a position in the Clinton Administration. It was wonderful to hear how people from so many different backgrounds had ended up working in the same field I am so passionate about.
I also got the chance to help out at a GW Alumni event. I arrived early and helped set up the venue which was a few minutes outside downtown, with gorgeous views of the Chicago skyline. I spent the rest of the afternoon checking attendees in and striking up conversations with many of them. I learned that quite a few were in town for the convention but had continued working in D.C. after graduating from GW, while a handful of them lived in Chicago and had pursued careers in the city. I got a chance to chat with several of GW’s staff and administrators including Dean Wahlbeck. Of course, I also got to see a few friends who happened to also be in Chicago for the convention and was able to catch up with them. This was a particularly special experience as I am so used to being a part of the GW community in Washington D.C., but had never seen so many students, alumni, and staff members come together in another city. It was a reminder that attending this school is not only about the four years I spend on campus, but the lifelong alumni community I will get to be a part of.
I am incredibly grateful to have gotten to attend the DNC this year. As someone who is so immersed in politics day in and day out, whether through my coursework or internships or involvement in organizations like GW College Dems, it can be difficult to not get caught up in all the noise. Attending this convention was a reminder of why I care so much about the people in power and the decisions they make. I got to see, live and in person, a coalition of people from all across the country with all different backgrounds, coming together over a shared vision for what a better future can look like.
My Experience at the RNC: Kieran Laffey
The chance to attend the RNC was a dream come true for me, as I’ve been passionate about American politics since I was a kid. Even though my family isn’t particularly political, my parents always made sure I knew who was serving in each position in the President’s cabinet. There are videos of me reciting the names of cabinet officials from when I was just six years old. This early knowledge always stayed with me, and the impact of the 2016 election and Donald Trump’s rise only fueled my interest further. Over the years, I moved away from my family’s apolitical stance and dedicated much of my time to understanding the ways and means of our political system. Naturally, being extremely interested in politics and identifying more with the stances of the Republican Party, I have always sought to have a seat at the table. I have attended countless volunteer events and local political dinners, and I have even worked for many political leaders. However, no job, event, or day is more prominent in Republican politics than the Republican National Convention. I tried to attend in 2020, but the plans fell through due to Covid. So, in 2024, I made it my mission to, by any means necessary, get my hands on tickets to attend. This is no easy task, as the convention is reserved only for a limited number of people. These tickets are often given out to well-connected people, close to party bosses or large donors. I can safely say I checked off none of those boxes. A box I did check off, though, was being someone who is never afraid to ask for things. I truly believe that you have nothing to lose by asking, and I spent several months asking everyone I knew if there was any way I could attend the Convention. After several “no’s”, and “I'll get back to you’s”, my local state representative at a Long Island Republican event introduced me to the Executive Director of the NY State GOP, and the rest was history.
I would say the most unexpected aspect of my week in Milwaukee was the unbelievable build up and turn of events just 36 hours before the Convention. I had flown into O’Hare Airport in Chicago on Saturday July 13th, understanding that I was about to be entering and attending a historical convention. A former President of the United States was trying to return to the White House after losing an election for the first time since Herbert Hoover, and the stakes were quite high. However, when I landed that Saturday, the unthinkable happened. That afternoon, President Trump was shot at his rally in Butler P.A. and for some time I wasn't even quite sure he was going to live. Where did the bullets come from? Who shot him? Where was he hit? Is the convention going to be canceled? These were just some of the questions rushing through my mind. As everyone knows, President Trump survived and made it to Milwaukee just a day later, but I can definitely say this was the most surprising event of my week. The events made for a day that I will never forget.
My experience at the Convention strongly connected me to aspects of my GW experience and brought me an excellent educational experience. I plan on declaring as a political science major, and after taking several poli-sci classes, I was present at one of the historical events that have been discussed in some of my classes. I got a front-row seat to the functions of our democracy, and I am so thankful to have experienced such a major event that was tied into my major at GW. As Vice Chairman of the GW College Republicans, the Convention provided me with an excellent opportunity to network with many possible speakers for future events on campus. I met countless Senators, Governors, activists, and even world leaders. I gave them my card, vouched for our College Republicans Club, and secured some of them to be speakers for our organization this year. I was also able to vouch for myself, doing many national television interviews and even meeting several people who have jobs in politics. I got some internship offers and even connected with people who I now call friends. The connections I made at the Convention helped me better understand our political system while also aiding with the mission of the College Republicans and my own future political career. I was very blessed to have been able to attend.
Unfortunately, I missed the GW Alumni event because I had a news interview for NBC. On the bright side, I connected with a few current GW students and shared some great conversations about campus life and politics. One was Christina Carris, whose father is running for Congress in Illinois. Christina walked me through a congressional candidate's daily schedule and events, and it was especially fascinating hearing about the fundraising process behind running for office. I also met an incoming GW student, Charles Kelleher, and I was able to explain how incredible our school is, especially for students interested in politics. I definitely made him very enthusiastic with regards to attending GW.
The experience solidified my vision of going into politics. At the convention, it just kept hitting me that I was in my element. I have been reading, watching, and being so invested in politics for the past five years; seeing all the people I read about in person giving phenomenal speeches about policies I care deeply about was a fantastic feeling. I also did a few news interviews, which made me very open to pursuing a career in journalism and media. As I mentioned before, I was also able to network at extreme levels with so many people in the field that I'm interested in, which helped immensely. I also made it a goal to talk and ask questions with many of the attendees at the RNC, which allowed me to hear stories about the real world of working in the heart of politics. This hands-on experience was invaluable and only strengthened my determination to dive deeper into both politics and media. I came home from the convention as a more mature and knowledgeable young man, and I will forever cherish my experience in Milwaukee this summer. I am already hoping that I can attend the next convention in Houston for 2028!