Alsawah is one of about 140 college students across the nation who currently are participating in the Spring 2013 White House Internship Program. He is the only MSU student working in the office, according to a press release from the White House.

Although he said running for office after graduation isn’t on his agenda, Alsawah plans to take what he’s learned in Washington D.C., when applying to law school and serving the public in the future.

Last weekend, The State News corresponded with Alsawah via email and asked about his experience at the internship.

The State News: What are your daily tasks?
Zade Alsawah: As an intern in the communications department, one of my main tasks is monitoring the news from a specific region. I help monitor news and make press clip summaries for the Midwest and Southeast region and for African American media. It’s always pretty neat to see stories break. In addition to that, I help manage incoming inquiries from reporters and other projects as assigned. It keeps me constantly busy, but that’s exactly how I like it.

SN: What do you hope to accomplish during your internship?
ZA: There are a few things: I hope to be able to see the inner-workings of government, especially the executive branch, from a hands-on perspective. I’ve always been able to learn quickly from hands-on work, and this has been perfect for that. More importantly, however, I hope to get a better sense of what I want to do with my life and how to best give back to the community. If I can leave the White House with a better sense of how I want to go about serving the community, then I know I have accomplished a lot.

SN: If you could shadow anyone in Washington, D.C., for one day, who would it be and why?
ZA: Tom Donilon, (a) national security adviser to … President (Barack Obama). I think he personifies my idea of working in foreign affairs (and) national security and still having a leg in public service. It would be awesome to spend a day with him and see what it’s like.

SN: What are your future aspirations?
ZA: At the moment, I am leaning towards going to law school and obtaining a degree in international trade law. Foreign affairs have always been my interest, and I believe I can play a major role in this profession moving forward. With that said, however, I am leaving the door open. I initially went to MSU with the assumption of becoming a doctor. Little did I know when I came to MSU, I would be interning at the White House. So one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned at college is that you just have to learn what you like most, and that you should always come in to something with an open mind.