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
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