By CNN's Deena Zaru [twitter-follow screen_name='DeenaZeinaCNN']

It was a humid day in early June and I was facing the Cannon House building, reporter notebook in hand, ready for my Capitol Hill debut. I was 19, bright eyed and coffee-buzzed. Not even the sweltering heat could wipe the smile off my face. It was my first day as CNN’s Capitol Hill intern. At the bureau people seemed pretty laid back- everyone looked nice, some in jeans, some in flats and others in blazers and fun necklaces.  For my first time on the Hill, I wore my favorite skinny black pants, comfortable leopard print flats, a flowy black top and a carry-all fringe black leather bag. As a college junior, who owned every jean mini skirt from Abercrombie and whose favorite colors are red, hot pink and anything leopard print, this was my sincerest attempt to wade through the avalanche of Victoria’s Secret sweatpants, college T’s and Forever 21 dresses in my closet to look conservative and official. I pulled my hair back in a loose ponytail to cool myself off and went in to meet CNN’s Dana Bash and congressional producer Ted Barrett.

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