This summer, junior Nicolas Gershanik was pacing the Neoclassical halls of the United States Capitol, eager to assist some of the most powerful legislators in the country. As a participant in the U.S. Senate Page Program, Gershanik spent three weeks living and working in Washington, D.C. alongside senators, after being nominated by senior senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. The experience was an eye-opening journey into the world of government and discipline — without a phone and with very little sleep.
“The first day, I was incredibly nervous,” Gershanik said, reminiscing
on the moment he walked into the dorms and met the program director.
He felt pressure as he took his first steps toward the Capitol, which was just a five-minute walk from his dorm. However, when he arrived, awe replaced his anxiety.
“I was amazed by the beautiful designs of the buildings and all the historic figures displayed on the walls,” Gershanik said.
Inside the Senate chamber, he and his fellow Pages – high school students who assist senators with daily legislative tasks – were seated on the floor, not allowed to touch the actual chairs reserved for senators. One by one, they introduced themselves, and when it was Gershanik’s turn, he was so nervous he could barely say his name.
Once orientation ended, the routine kicked in. Gershanik was expected to wake up around 7 a.m., prepare breakfast, check in with dorm proctors, get dressed in uniform and head to the Capitol.
The group would walk down the block, clear security in one of the Senate office buildings and ride a private subway reserved for employees into the Capitol. Their first stop was the Republican cloakroom, where they signed in and took on a variety of duties depending on their shift, like delivering speeches to be copied and filed, and quietly waiting their turn in the basement until called up.
One of the most eye-opening moments for Gershanik came when he realized the Senate chamber wasn’t always as packed as it appeared on TV.
“I thought every senator would be present when someone was speaking,” Gershanik said. “But it’s usually just the next person up or whoever wants to be there.”
Gershanik also had the opportunity to meet Senator McConnell in person.
“Senator McConnell was kind and charismatic and seemed genuinely interested in talking to the students working around him,” Gershanik said.
One of the hardest adjustments came on day one: handing over his phone.
“I texted my friends and family goodbye and turned it in,” Gershanik said.
However, he found the experience refreshing, as he became more appreciative of the small things. There were landlines in each room, and he had to make time to call family and friends.
From the once-in-a-lifetime experience, Gershanik said he learned better time management and communication.
“You had to get fully ready, eat, and be downstairs in under 30 minutes. No excuses,” Gershanik said. “And when you’re working in a place like the Senate, you learn how to talk to people professionally and clearly.”
Gershanik returned from Washington, D.C., with a deeper understanding of how government works. The experience left him with a new perspective—not just on politics, but on what it’s like to be a true leader.
