As a journalism student, I am required to complete a 400-hour internship in order to graduate.

This isn’t too bad of a deal.

An internship gives usjournalism students the chance to try something out and see if we really do like it or not, make contacts, yada, yada, yada.

So this past summer, I decided it was time to strap an internship under my belt.

As my wonderful summer was full of six weddings, all their showers (tabletop, entertainment, lingerie, time of day, time of year — who thinks of this stuff?) and all their parties, I decided to stick around.

So I interned with Al Gore’s campaign office in Des Moines.

My dad had a slight case of the nerves when his 22-year-old daughter dropped the bomb that she was going to be a political intern.

But he got over it.

Anyway, I had a great experience. I was able to get to know and learn from the likes of the Washington Times’ Bill Sammon, U.S. News and World Report’s Roger Simon, and I even had a long conversation with CNN’s John King.

My most memorable moment, however, was the day I lost my pin.

Part of my internship involved working with the advance staff.

We figure out how the Veep will enter a venue, where the press should be to get the best lighting, angles and earfuls.

Everyone on the advance staff is cleared and issued a pin by the Secret Service.

They’re called pins, but there just pieces of tin that you fold on your shirt collar or lapel.

So, jumping ahead, I arrived at the site early the first day of a two-day trip in Des Moines.

It was at the Soul City Cafe where Mr. Gore was to meet with several black activists from the community.

It was halfway into the day, and I had some time before the press was to show up,. I am an obsessive compulsive toothbrusher, so I decided to duck into the girls’ room.

As I walked out, I touched my lapel to feel my pin. It was gone.

I rushed back into the restroom, searched everywhere, but I couldn’t find it.

So I ran outside, found one of 30 secret service agents and explained that I had lost my pin and needed another right away as the press was beginning to arrive.

He said, “No way, sweetie. You have to find that pin, because if you don’t, every single person in the country has to take off his pin and be issued a different color.”

Are you kidding me? I was freaking out. How could this be happening?

Leave it to me to cause a national security scare.

I could hear them on their little radios, “Yeah, that press girl lost her pin …”

So I ran to my car; it wasn’t there. Back to the bathroom; not there either. I only brushed my teeth!

All of a sudden in the middle of a prayer to St. Anthony (the one who helps you find things), I found the elusive pin.

Even though I was incredibly embarrassed, you just don’t lie to the secret service.

So I came clean and told them the truth; my pin had fallen down my shirt.

Needless to say, I was the butt of every joke for the rest of the trip, and the one after that, and the one after that.

Those secret service agents are much bigger jokesters than they appear. And talk about a bunch of sailors, ick.

Now that I’m back at school and have the advance work behind me, I’d like to continue the campaign at Iowa State.

Along with Erica Fischer, a crazy little girl from Long Island, and a few others, I am getting Cyclones for Gore started up on campus.

I love Al Gore. I mean, I really, really love him. I believe with every bone in my body that he should be our next president. My goal is to make you believe that, too.

So, I am dedicating my column to the Cyclones for Gore. It will primarily serve as a platform for discussion of the issues, campaign updates and Cyclones for Gore event updates.

If anyone wants to become involved, and I mean anyone, contact me through e-mail at [email protected] or call Erica at (515)282-9999.

This will be a fun group, I’m pretty excited about this year. You can dedicate as much or as little time as you would like.

Whether you would like to become a leader or get a bumper sticker, just get involved. See you soon.

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Sarah Leonard is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Lawler.