Greetings from DC:
My time in D.C. has been a one-of-a-kind experience that I am thrilled to share with my peers. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be spending my Spring semester interning for the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC). As a Chamber Relations Intern, I support the department in strengthening engagement with USHCC’s national network of local Hispanic Chambers. Day-to-day, I assist with the development and execution of chamber programming for the USHCC National Events, research Hispanic Chambers nationwide, and provide direct support for daily operations. Most importantly, I work closely with USHCC staff to enhance communication, coordination, and service delivery for chamber members nationwide.
At the beginning of my semester in UCDC, I felt challenged to quickly adapt to a new weekly routine that was uniquely different from my schedule back at Berkeley. Since then, I have found resources such as Google Calendar and scheduling time with friends to study, as helpful ways to stay organized and ensure a healthy routine. I am very thankful to have explored much of the DMV area by using my UCDC Metro Pass to go to Virginia and visit my brother and his family! My favorite part of living at the Washington Center is living with students from across the UC system. I am thankful for the friendships and experiences I have made, and look forward to staying connected with my cohort.
Some of my favorite memories include experiencing snow for the first time, visiting the Washington Monument, taking an Amtrak to NYC, and celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the United States at the Portrait Gallery with my friends! My favorite Smithsonian I have visited is the National Museum of American History, because I admired the diverse stories of Latinos in the United States in the Molina Family Latino Gallery. Hands down, my favorite part of D.C. is Georgetown because I love going to Yellow for lunch and staying to study.
Despite being nervous to participate in class seminars at the Washington Center, I challenged myself to partake in weekly class sessions and led with the motivation to “Do it afraid.” It was difficult to learn how to take risks in an environment that felt so unfamiliar; however, my internship experience, paired with my desire to contribute to meaningful class discussions, has motivated me to take up space, use my voice, and confidently express my ideas and creativity in ways that contribute to the conversation. The most impactful piece of advice I have received since being in D.C. is to be a changemaker through mobilizing my neighboring communities. In my class, Immigration and the Law, I felt inspired by our first guest speaker, Deputy Director of Policy for United We Dream, Ms. Juliana do Nascimento. I left this session feeling encouraged to lead with passion and resilience, grounded in the belief that working towards a better world is possible.
Being a Matsui Washington Fellow has made returning to D.C. a possibility for me. I am immensely grateful for the organizational, academic, and professional opportunities I have been exposed to as a student. I can not wait to continue making memories in our nation's capital and transforming my dreams and passions for immigration policy and law into action.