04/06/2016
Since my last post, I’ve had the privilege of taking part in some pretty unique and exciting experiences! I visited Japan for nine days as a student ambassador through the Japanese American Citizen’s League (JACL), witnessed DC’s cherry blossoms in peak bloom, listened to Czech Prime Minister...
03/23/2016
Last week was the last week of the program for the UCDC quarter students (basically everyone except for Berkeley, Merced, and the private schools). This just so happened to be the first week in the last three months where the temperatures broke 70°F. That is to say that last week was filled with...
03/09/2016
Networking is one of D.C.’s most widely practiced professional tools, manifesting itself in the form of grandiose dinners, public events, and laid-back happy hours all throughout the city. Theoretically, networking sounds simple: you walk into a room, have your little professional spiel ready,...
02/23/2016
This week at the Department of Education there are four hearing regarding the recently released 2017 budget, as well as acting Secretary John King’s confirmation hearing. Working in the legislative affairs department, this essentially means an incredible amount of preparation and a lot of meetings...
02/10/2016
Five weeks into my DC journey, and I’m still going strong! I’ve learned to work a room at a networking event, strike a balance between my internship and classes, and aimlessly wander around the city without finding myself helplessly lost. Having also recently learned how to adjust to homesickness...
01/25/2016
As I write this, it is now my second official snow day. As a California native who never really ventured to far from home, I must admit this is still all amazingly surprising and surreal, to say the least. The first time I saw snow was last week. I was so shocked I halted in my tracks in awe to...
01/20/2016
In 2014, after having just transferred to Cal, I decided I’d take it upon myself to independently apply for an internship in Washington, D.C. and begin dabbling in the political world. Though I had a stellar experience interning for Congressman Mike Honda, because I was on my own, I was forced to...
11/18/2015
In the past few months, a lot of my peers at the UCDC program and myself included have been debating between staying in the Bay Area after graduation, soaking under the glorious year-around sun and eating 99-cent avocados, or moving to the East Coast, experiencing actual seasons and living a more...
11/05/2015
Since I last wrote, my time in D.C. seems more eventful than what I thought it could possibly be. I have been tired often, however, it is actually really enjoyable to stay on my feet! As I said in my last post, my birthday passed and one of my best friends spent the week with me, which was such a...
11/02/2015
Disgust, then sorrow, and finally anger flashed across my face. I blamed this deluge of sudden emotions on a New York Times article —the white lettered headline, framed against a colorful rug and pair of shackled feet, declared “ The Chains of Mental Illness in West Africa .” This piece, authored...