#BreakFree: Women in Politics Conference and SE Weekend

There is a background story behind my hashtag title, but first let me start off this blog post with the Women in Politics conference that I attended from September 26-27th. The director of the Political Institute for Women provided me at the last minute with an opportunity to attend this conference. I could not turn down this chance to learn how to run a successful campaign. I met an incredible group of strong women, who all share the same vision to expand the presence of women in political office. Even though women consists of 51 percent of the US population, the reality is only 18 percent of women make up Congress. Sexism continuously exists as a systematic problem in the society, especially since women earn less compared to their male counterparts. The speakers in this conference assisted me by expanding my knowledge in: campaign management, fundraising, campaign finance, and campaign communications. The most important lesson that I learned from this conference was to become bold, fierce, and well articulated as we embark on our role to represent women in the political and business world.

After the conference concluded on Friday evening, I served as a volunteer at a retreat called the BLD Singles Encounter 6  in Silver Springs, Maryland. BLD (Bukas Loob Sa Diyos = Open your heart to Spirit of God) is a Filipino Catholic Church Community that focuses on praising and worshiping God. BLD has many districts throughout the world. The goals of the Singles Encounter 6 retreat is to introduce newcomers (the candidates) to the BLD Singles community and most importantly to rekindle an individual's relationship with God. I am an active member of the BLD Singles community in New Jersey and luckily Washington DC also has a BLD Singles district. Instead of only volunteering for one day, I unintentionally served the whole entire weekend. I appreciated the warmth and acceptance without judgement from the members of the BLD Singles DC community, because this is my home away from home. I met new friends and my old friends from BLD Newark, because they came down here from New Jersey to serve in this retreat. 

On Sunday, a few of my friends from BLD Newark decided to go visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC. I decided to go with them and it was worth being able to get lost inside the Basilica. Even if you are not religious, the artwork and the Gothic architecture is quite amazing. This weekend was filled so many factors and emotions, such as: tears, laughter, smiles, yawning in the Eucharistic adoration vigil room, singing, #hashtags, delicious catered Pinoy food, powerful testimonies, funny skits, peace, and healing.  

The overall theme of the SE weekend is to "#Break Free”. As I reflect upon my experience these past couple of days, I came to the realization that I have grown spiritually and also from a personal standpoint. I am not the same person that took the Singles Encounter retreat 4 years ago. Nevertheless, as a month swiftly passes by, I am still continuing to grow throughout my experience in DC. I made a promise to myself to break free from my comfort zone by attending more workshops and events, in order to put myself out there. 

Here is a slideshow of all the pictures that I took throughout the weekend. Enjoy.

Women in Politics Conference and SE 6 Weekend by Slidely - Slideshow maker

A Day in the Woodrow Wilson Center

During the weekend, Denise and I took the bus together to New York City. Going back home opened my eyes to the reality that its almost been a month since I first stepped into the center of the political universe. Now that we are back, I finally decided to go after the opportunity to attend various networking and cultural events. It fundamental for my own personal growth to embrace the diversity of cultural and political events surrounding this great city- for our time in Washington DC will fly by in a blink of an eye.

On September 23, 2013, all of us WII students were invited to attend the Symposium called, "Making Sense of Syria: Understanding the Past, Looking Towards the Future." Dr Dalhouse led the panel discussion and it was interesting that he chose two speakers with a different perspective with the topic regarding Syria. Mr Miller was one of the speakers, who advised the Secretary of State for almost two decades. Joseph Driesen provided insight for a Russian perspective, because distinguishes himself as a Russian scholar. I am able to comprehend the cold hard fact that Syria is reshaping the legitimacy and credibility of the two superpowers: President Obama and Putin due to recent events.  I enjoy attending panel discussions about current events, because we are able to expand our knowledge about the world around us. This is the promise that I am making to myself, in which I will make an effort to attend more speaking engagements and panel discussions throughout DC at least once a week.

Till next time,

This is how Lisa sees it!

Chasing After the Dream in DC

Throughout our daily lives, each day brings forth another day to teach us new skills and knowledge. This past week has been challenging, but rewarding. My task for my internship included calling all 542 Congressmen and women to update our files. I am slowly learning how to communicate clearly through the phone.  Unfortunately, while working on the computer, the computer crashed with the “black screen of death” before my eyes. Luckily, I did not give up and I continued to finish my task. On the bright side, one of the bosses surprised me with tickets to the Nationals game. During the WII orientation, I remembered telling the class that: “Never had I ever been to a MLB baseball game”.

On September 15, 2013, I finally attended my first baseball game against the Phillies. I witnessed my first home run in person and the National won. The final score was 11-2. Even though I am not a big baseball fan  (except the fact I love Derek Jeter and also Matt Harvey), I enjoyed the experience of being a part of the all time American experience of watching a baseball game in the ballpark.  It’s time for me to cross off “watching a baseball game” in my bucket list of things to do while in Washington DC.

After the game, I decided to go by the church right by my internship. Little did I realized, St Peters Catholic Church on Capitol Hill was one of the churches damaged by the 2011 earthquake. As I continuously contemplate by looking back at my experiences this week during mass, I realized that the road to Capitol Hill will be a long journey. During the week, I went into the NRCC to speak with somebody regarding campaigning training. Unfortunately, I was turned down because I do not have any campaign experience. The lady over there told me, “You are not ready to run, because politics is about serving others and it’s not about fame”.

I have a reason why I want to run for office and it is because I want to serve others by making a difference in this world. No matter what, the decisions politicians make affect everything throughout our lives, such as taxes, gun laws, student loans, etc. Throughout my life, I learned to become humble by putting the needs of others first before my own. We need more women in higher political positions, because there continues to be a misrepresentation of women in office. Women are the minority, but we make up half of the population.

I will continue to be resilient by going after my own dreams without allowing the word “NO” to stop my pursuit towards running for office. I am going to continue to stretch my arms forward towards embracing the vast opportunities that will be a waiting for me in Washington, DC.

 Till next time, this is how Lisa sees it!

"“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”"

Looking back before Washington DC

I haven't blogged in a couple of months, so its been a while.  When I was around 7 years old,  I once said, "When I grow up, I want to become president of the United States." At the end of my senior year of high school, I dreamed of studying aboard and to also pursue a degree in political science." Nevertheless, life is a wonderful journey; which is filled with twisted turns and crossroads. After I transferred to William Paterson University three years ago in the fall, I was convinced to try a different path by switching my major to nursing. Without a doubt in my mind, that move was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I was studying for nursing without any passions, except money in my mind.  There were many times, that I wallowed in self doubt and pity for the wrong choices I made in the past. After transferring to Pace University for the spring 2011 semester and then taking the fall semester off, my journey took me back to the front steps of William Paterson University.

Last January, I finally decided to put my foot down by going after my younger self's dream by switching my major to political science and pre-law. For once in my life, I began to feel alive again and happy with the decision I made for myself. Afterwards, life took me to another twist towards the abyss of doubt. In a cold and bitter evening in December 2012, I remember walking to the department's chair person, Dr Lewis, for advisement. In my mind, I wanted to overload myself for the spring semester with 6 classes. This is because I wanted to quickly graduated for the spring 2013 semester. I clearly remember what Dr Lewis told me that, "I would not be able to take all of these classes together, because I could not take senior seminar and research methods at the same time". A dagger plunged into my heart, as he said those words. I never really understood why he refused to let me take all these classes together until the spring semester ended. In the end of the spring semester, I began feeling very weary and tired of my surroundings. I knew that I deserved more, because I accomplished bringing my GPA over a 3.0.

After I attended mass at my school's church, a little voice inside of me told me to apply for the Washington Internship Institute. After speaking to my academic advisor, I found out the classes at WII will transfer over for the senior seminar and the elective, in which I needed in order to graduate. After doing a huge amount of research for scholarship opportunities, here I am now in the center of the political universe, our nation's capitol. In the end of July I finally said "Yes" to interning in DC after my experiences in the two women in politics leadership conference, in which I attended this past summer.

While sitting in the Megabus since I am going back to New York City this weekend, I reflected upon my first week and a half in Washington DC. I still can't believe I pulled off interning in DC for my final semester of my undergraduate degree. My peers and I would talk about running for office someday and to eventually live in Washington DC. While my peers are in school, I am living the dream. I am blessed with this opportunity to intern for Prime Advocacy and to walk by Capitol Hill every single day for my internship. Seeing Capitol Hill everyday reminds me, that nothing is impossible with hard work, passion, and determination. Someday, one day I will run for Congress and will win.

Washington DC is now my backyard. History is in the making right now as the United States is entering in the brink of war. It finally hit me that I am interning right next to the building where Congress might decide to go to war again. My boyfriend came down from New York to visit me and we witnessed the protest for and against war in Syria right in front of the White House. There is still so many sights to explore before December 14. I look forward to creating new memories with my classmates and even coworkers from now until December 14. My soul is now awake with a fierce will to learn more, to grow as a person, and to meet new people along this journey in Washington DC. At the moment of surrender and doubt, the light shines bright upon this city of opportunity by living the American Dream. Here is a picture collage of Phil's first visit to Washington, DC

Till next time, this is how Lisa sees it!

"One’s Personal Legend is what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is. “At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their Personal Legend….whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it’s because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It’s your mission on earth"- Paulo Coelho