Clatyon Armstrong, 18, just graduated from Frank W. Ballou Senior High School, a school made famous by Ron Suskind's 1998 book "A Hope in the Unseen," which chronicled the journey of a young man with a troubled personal history and a deficient school environment who traveled from Ballou to the Ivy League.
Marvin Joseph-The Washington Post
Armstrong does not shy away from describing his life at Ballou as difficult, stressful and disadvantaged. "It was tough, but I handled it pretty well," he says. "There were fights every day and people have gotten stabbed. People have gotten shot. There's constantly people being knuckle-heads and trying to be the class clown. But I'm big on self-motivation."
Marvin Joseph-The Washington Post
White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett talks with the group. "We are so happy to have you in this new program," she says. The program is all part of the administration's "goal to integrate the White House into the community. To take young folks with an initial interest in public service and give you a taste of what you'll do."
Marvin Joseph-The Washington Post
Armstrong spends most of the day on a computer assembling press clips, but he also helps out with tours, once even greeting the staff of a visiting governor at the front gate. On the Fourth of July, when the White House had its big celebration with the first family, Armstrong worked one of the beverage counters. That was major; he had a bird's-eye view of everything and everyone. "People you viewed as super-human," he says, "are just people doing outstanding things."
Marvin Joseph-The Washington Post
Three weeks into his internship, Armstrong moves down the long maze of hallways at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building with confidence. He is wearing a charcoal gray suit and black cap-toe oxfords, not because he's been told that this is the dress code but because he's attuned to what it says about him. "I like wearing a suit. I like showing I have flavor," he says.
Marvin Joseph-The Washington Post
"When the District distributed a news alert announcing that the White House was offering internships to D.C. public school students, I was excited. I was like, 'Are you serious?'" Armstrong had investigated the possibility of getting an internship before and had found them mostly reserved for college students. He applied and was told that he was the only applicant for the first month.
Marvin Joseph-The Washington Post
Armstrong spent a day prepping for his interview. Now that he's part of the program, he's concerned that there are only two boys. "I was like, 'There's only two of us?' I'd like to see more," he says. And then sounding a bit like a young politician making a case for legislation, he adds: "That's where the crime rate comes from: young males."
Marvin Joseph-The Washington Post
Armstrong hangs out on the porch of his family's Southeast Washington home with his father, Milton. Armstrong is the family go-getter. This spring, he was part of the United States Senate Youth Program, for which he received a $5,000 scholarship and a week at the Mayflower Hotel.
Marvin Joseph-The Washington Post
Armstrong plays with his 1-year-old nephew, Karon Baker. Armstrong will be the first member of his family to attend college when he heads off to the University of Arizona later this month.
Marvin Joseph-The Washington Post
Clayton Armstrong reads over his financial aid paperwork. When asked what has surprised him most during his internship, it's something both simple and profound: "Coming from that kind of community, you have to be tough when you go certain places," he says. "I've learned, I can be friendly."
Marvin Joseph-The Washington Post
Gallery Credits:
Producer, Photo Editor Stephen Cook
Text Editor Christian Pelusi
