Looking back at my semester at Washington D. C., I feel very grateful that I had this wonderful opportunity. My first post may have been critical of my internship because of its misalignment with its mission (for context, please read my first blog), but after much thought and exploration, I am no longer critical, and I am ultimately very grateful that I had this opportunity.
For one of the essays I was assigned to write for the Race and Politics class, I was tasked with analyzing both our internship and our volunteer work, using the concepts learned in class. After discussing with the professor (Shoutout to Professor Board for being an amazing instructor!), I learned that a nonpartisan organization can very much align themselves with political positions, which doesn’t necessarily mean that they are a partisan organization. Political parties can shift on the political spectrum, but positions are by definition set on that spectrum. For instance, during and before the Civil War, the Republican Party was the party that supported the emancipation of slaves, while the Democrats did not. Thus, when my organization supports positions that emphasize the AAPI community, that is not only legitimate, but it is very much praiseworthy that this organization is supporting the point of view of a minority group, especially during this time of great political change.
In addition to this eye opening and exploratory experience, I had the wonderful opportunity to have a coffee chat with a staff member from Congresswoman Chu’s office. I remember that last semester, I applied to the Congresswoman’s office. While making it to the interview phase, I was not able to advance further. However, after reaching out to my interviewer for a coffee chat, we scheduled a Monday afternoon meeting, at the Rayburn House building, where we talked about important topics, like the relief from the forest fires, and the healthcare issues that the Congresswoman is addressing.
So what is the lesson at the end of the day? If I were to give any advice to students participating in the program in the future, or anyone for that matter, is to not be afraid to reach out and keep an open mind. You never know if they will say yes and learn something new along the way.
One final development that emerged out of my experience at D.C. is that I am now set on enlisting in the military after graduation. Having visited many extraordinary museums, such as the African American History Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, I have a better understanding of the struggles and triumphs throughout American history that shaped what it is today. I hope to be a part of this narrative by enlisting and contributing to a greater cause.
Now that I’m back at Berkeley, the experience at D.C. felt like a surreal dream. Once again I want to reiterate how grateful I am for this opportunity, and how much it has transformed my perspective on politics, and my career in many positive ways.