Back to school
By Heidi
 
Ratings Info-friendship, Donna tries to go back 
to school
 
Disclaimers-These are not my characters and I am 
making no money off of them.
 
Spoilers-small one with Donna from “In The Shadow 
of 2 Gunmen”
 
Special Thanks-Sarah, the beta reader who helped 
this story from dying a slow death with all of 
her wonderful help and suggestions. 
 
 
 
 “I will now take a few questions.” CJ said, 
wrapping up the morning briefing.
 
 
Reporters began clamoring and shouting out 
questions.
 
 “Andrea” CJ said.
 
 “Is it confirmed that the president is meeting 
with Senator Bennett on the education reform 
bill?” Andrea Peterson asked.
 
 “The president is not meeting with Senator 
Bennett today.” CJ said, trying to draw attention 
away from the education bill.
 
 “Danny” CJ said.
 
 “How does rider 16 attached to the new weapons 
bill affect members of the white house staff?” 
Danny asked.
 
 “Which rider was that you were referring to? 
The bill has about 30 riders attached at last 
count?” CJ shot back at the reporter.
 
 “ It was rider 16 and I am specifically 
referring to the rider that states that all senior white 
house staff and assistants must have a college 
degree?” Danny said, looking up from his notes.
 
 “The president has the bill on his desk and he 
is reviewing it at this time.” CJ said.
 
CJ ended the press conference and walked out of 
the briefing room. She knew that Danny’s 
unanswered question would probably haunt her throughout 
the rest of the day’s briefings.
 
 
Donna Moss knew about the rider and was extremely 
worried about her job. This was Washington DC 
and the only way to get a job in this town was to 
have a degree, which she did not.
 
 
The president promptly walked into the oval 
office ready to start the staff meeting.
 
 “What is up with the rider attached to the 
weapons bill?” President Bartlett asked.
 
 “The rider will affect all senior white house 
staff and assistants. The rider states that all 
upper staff must hold a college degree.” Toby 
explained.
 
 “Ok, but who does it affect here in the west 
wing and what does Danny Concanon know?” President 
Bartlett asked again.
 
 “Danny Concanon doesn’t know anything other 
than there is a rider attached that could have 
possible lasting implications on the white house 
staff.” CJ explained.
 
 “So far, it only affects one member of my 
staff.” Josh said.
 
 “Who?” the president asked.
 
 “Donna” Josh said.
 
 “Really?” the president said with a grin on his 
face.
 
 “Yeah, she never got to finish her degree 
because she came to work for us during the campaign.” 
Josh explained.
 
 “Donna certainly earned her stripes working for 
you.” Sam said, knowing how well she handled 
Josh.
 
 “We need the weapons bill.” the president 
calmly stated.
 
The group in the room was silent. They needed 
the weapons bill to pass, but there was a bigger 
question they had to answer. Was it right to 
sacrifice one of their own for political gains?
 
 “What about her going back to school before the 
bill passes? She would be enrolled and getting 
some sort of a degree.” Toby said.
 
 “She could get a degree in anything and still 
meet the requirements.” Sam said.
 
 “I’ll talk to Donna and see how she feels.” the 
president said.
 
Donna was on the phone when Josh approached her 
desk. She quickly ended the phone call and looked 
up at her boss.
 
 “The president wants to see you.” Josh said, 
without mincing words.
 
Donna was shocked that the president actually 
wanted to see her. She was worried about what would 
happen once she entered the oval office.
 
 “Donna, come on in.” the president greeted her.
 
 “Sir” Donna greeted him.
 
 “Josh, shut the door and go back to work. I’m 
sure that you can survive without your assistant 
for a little while.” the president said, 
dismissing Josh.
 
 “I’m sure you already know about the rider 
attached to the weapons bill.” the president said.
 
 “Yes, I know about it.” Donna said.
 
 “We need the bill to pass, as you know.” 
President Bartlett said.
 
 “I understand and my resignation will be on 
Josh’s desk by Friday.” Donna said.
 
 “What?!?” the president exclaimed in confusion.
 
 “I will resign, so you don’t have to fire me.” 
Donna said sadly.
 
 “Back up here. No one is quitting or getting 
fired. How would you feel about going back to 
school to get your degree? If you enroll in a 
degree program before the bill is signed, you would be 
in the clear as Toby informed me this morning.” 
the president explained all of the details.
 
 “I need to think about things. I don’t know if 
Georgetown University would even accept me. The 
University of Wisconsin isn’t exactly in the same 
league. I have an eclectic set of courses.” 
Donna explained.
 
 “Yes, I noticed that. I have a copy of that 
transcript. English, Latin, political science, 
government, communications, education, and 
economics.” President Bartlett read from the paper he was 
holding in his hand.
 
 “I didn’t know what I wanted to do. When do I 
need to make a decision on this?” Donna asked.
 
 “Let me know by next week.” Bartlett said and 
let Donna get back to work.
 
 
Donna left work early and headed toward 
Georgetown University. She wanted to make sure that the 
university would accept her before she told anyone 
her plans. A college degree was something that 
she had to have to survive in Washington DC and 
the political arena.
 
 “Miss Moss, come on back.” Elizabeth Allen 
ushered her into an office in the admissions 
department.
 
 “Here are the papers I was told to bring in.” 
Donna handed Liz the stack of papers from her bag.
 
 “Thanks. I see that you are interested in the 
political science and communications program. 
Why?” Liz asked.
 
 “I work in the white house. I work for the 
Deputy Chief Of Staff. I want to get a degree that 
will help me in the future.” Donna explained.
 
 “Are you looking to get a promotion with your 
degree?” Liz asked.
 
 “I am trying to get the degree, so I can get a 
good job when the time comes.” Donna said.
 
 “Well, your high school and college transcripts 
certainly meet our entrance requirements. 
Forgive me for saying this, but you aren’t our typical 
student. Please don’t let this dissuade you, but 
I don’t see you ever graduating.” Liz said.
 
 “I am going to get my degree.” Donna said with 
conviction.
 
 “Ok, then. Here is a course catalog and an 
admissions slip. Read the directions and fill out 
the papers.” Liz said.
 
 
Liz watched the young woman go. She had seen it 
before. Some White House groupie wanting to get 
that political science degree to impress the boss 
and move up the food chain. She didn’t want 
these girls messing with her admittance records. Liz 
thought that this one might different, she 
clearly had the drive and the want, but that probably 
would soon change once this woman got rejected by 
the man that she was trying to impress.
 
Donna left the office filling energized. She was 
going to get that degree and people would be 
proud of her.
 
 
Donna was sitting at the table pursuing over 
papers from the university when Sam walked over.
 
 “Hi, Donna” Sam said, sliding into a chair at 
her table.
 
 “Hey” Donna said with a smile.
 
 “Are you going back to school to finish your 
degree?” Sam asked after seeing the papers on the 
table.
 
 “Yeah, in political science and 
communications.” Donna said.
 
 “Political science and communications, huh? 
Whose job are you after? You know that you can 
always have mine and have to work with Toby.” Sam 
said, joking around with Donna.
 
 “Just trying to secure my future.” Donna said.
 
 “What classes are you taking?” Sam asked, 
intrigued.
 
 “Well, I will be taking 320, which is the US 
and foreign policy, 325, which is the US 
Presidency, and Communications 150 which is public speaking 
and writing.” Donna explained.
 
 “You should do great in those courses. This is 
stuff you deal with on a daily basis.” Sam said.
 
 “Thanks for the support, but these kids are 
five to six years younger than I am.” Donna confided 
to Sam.
 
 “You will be great.” Sam said.
 
 “These programs require an internship and I am 
kinda worried about that.” Donna explained.
 
 “Why are you worried? I’m sure wherever you 
have to intern around here can easily be worked out. 
I wouldn’t worry about it.” Sam said, trying to 
keep Donna’s spirits up.
 
It was nice to eat lunch with a friend. Since 
moving to Washington, she hadn’t made any friends. 
The people in her apartment building had regular 
jobs and lives. They didn’t know Donna because 
her schedule was so weird and confusing. Even her 
roommate had quit interacting with her. Cheryl 
lived her own life and simply ignored Donna. The 
people she worked with and saw on a daily basis 
became her lifeline and friends. They helped to 
keep her grounded.
 
Donna was happy that someone believed in her. 
Working in the White House was great, but it 
definitely had it’s drawbacks when you didn’t have your 
degree. People never took her seriously in terms 
of opinions or contributions to the larger 
picture. She wanted that degree so people would have 
to take her seriously and listen to what she had 
to say.
 
Donna and Sam finished lunch and went back to 
their respective jobs. Donna was soon summoned to 
the oval office.
 
 “Donna, come in” the president said.
 
 “Sir” Donna greeted him.
 
 “An old friend from Georgetown said that you 
are now a student in political science and 
communications.” the president said.
 
 “That’s right, sir.” Donna said.
 
 
Donna filled the president in on her courses and 
future internships.
 
 “Well, if you need help with anything, there is 
an office of people out there who are willing to 
help you out.” the president explained.
 
 “Sir, maybe you should ask them before 
volunteering them to help me.” Donna said gently.
 
 “Nonsense. You are one of us and they would be 
glad to help you.” the president said and then 
sent Donna back to work.
 
Donna went back and sat at her desk. She knew 
that this group of fiercely proud, smart, and tough 
people would help her and support her along the 
way. She was going to make someone proud of her 
for doing this.
 
Her parents hated the fact that she dropped out 
of college for Dr. Freeride. They railed at her 
everytime she spoke to them about not having a 
college degree and working in the White House didn’t 
matter to them at all. She was going to surprise 
them all by giving up her own time and giving her 
degree first priority after her job.
 

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