The idea of living in Washington, DC, and working in the highest levels of government was something I was very interested in since starting as a freshman at Cal. As someone who has known no other state than California, living in DC took some getting used to. My time in DC started with walking around and seeing the city. My parents were with me when I first arrived, and we walked the National Mall and around Dupont Circle to visit the UC Washington Center and see where I would live for the next four months. One of my favorite moments from my first weeks in DC was when we took a tour of the US Capitol Building. Not having been inside since I was in middle school, being able to walk inside the Rotunda and National Statuary Hall brought back memories and filled me with a sense of history.
When the time came to begin the UCDC Program, I was looking forward to meeting my cohort. Meeting new people at orientation and during the social events and learning where they were interning was fun. It was amazing to see the diverse placements people were able to secure for their internships, such as Congress, federal agencies, the White House, and non-profits, among others. My time in the program began with taking two classes, my elective Race and Politics, and then a four-week module taught by UCDC Academic Services Director Dr. Jimmy Ellis on DC politics and history. Both courses went hand in hand, as both sought to teach us about DC and the people who make up its diverse communities and neighborhoods. As part of a class project for my elective and to learn more about DC’s residents, I signed up to volunteer at a local food pantry. The pantry is overseen by a non-profit called Bread for the City, a local organization dedicated to providing food security to all local DC residents, regardless of income. Being able to volunteer and assist clients with shopping for their groceries opened my eyes to the people who live in DC and the inequities that exist within the capital. Leaving the pantry on my first day of volunteering, I was left with a newfound sense of what public service is.
In DC, you are presented with a glorified image of the city, focusing on places like the White House, Capitol Hill, and the National Mall. However, if one takes time to look at the communities surrounding the federal city, one will find communities rich in activism, culture, and a history of their own. In working with members of marginalized communities, I was reminded of the true meaning of public service: being on the ground and spending time with the people we seek to advocate for through government and public policy. I plan to take this understanding of public service with me as I continue the semester and throughout my career in government.