Karen Quintana: Blogs

Recess and Stress

The stress of DC can be seen on the faces of staff members on the Hill. It is easy to get caught up in work that we do and we forget how to relax. I know that as an undergraduate, I am constantly on the go from class to work to meetings. It’s both emotionally and physically exhausting. As an intern, there is also stress, especially when the office is busy. There are deadlines and certain expectations we each need to meet. The best way to relax is to talk about it. Luckily, all of us interns are really close. We are able to confide with each other about things that we go through on a daily basis. Also, exploring the city is one of my favorite aspects of life in DC. We can just jump on the metro and head to different parts of the city and have new adventures. My favorite thing to do here is trying new foods since the city is filled with different cultures so we explore new places to eat and the different cultures of the city. Never in my life have I tried so many different kinds of food than in the past couple of months. For instance, we have had Cuban, Salvadorian, Spanish, Dominican, Moroccan, and Ethiopian foods. Although our stress does not compare to those of our co-workers in the office, we are still able to observe and absorb some of the stress that comes from working in DC.

March 21, 2010

This past weekend, historic legislation passed in the nation’s Capitol. We took this opportunity and went to the Gallery of the House of Representatives to view the debates. The line was immense and the Gallery was rotating to allow everyone the chance to view the historical event. Everyone was talking about the Health Care bill and the effects it would have on our country. The people standing in line in front of me were also very eager in hopes that the legislation would pass, however, the people behind me thought it was a horrible piece of legislation. What is great about working on the hill is that I get to experience both points of view of any issue whether it is from constituents, staffers, news, or other resources we have access to. Personally, I thought it was great that the controversial bill finally passed because it ended most of the anti-bill phone calls in the office and the anticipating of knowing whether or my friends, family, and other people in my life would have access to health care. Unfortunately, this bill really did divide our country and brought a lot of hatred into political offices because many are afraid of change. Division always exists when major legislation is put forth, but without giving it a chance we will never know how it will turn out. Although many concerns are raised, I believe that this legislation is good for our country and especially the 32 million people who now have access to health care. To me, that is a remarkable change in our country.

Census 2020

This year the Census has taken many notable measures to target minority communities, but many members of the Latino community are still hesitant to fill out their Census form. In order to target Latino communities, the people need to be reassured that filling out the Census will only have a positive effect on their lives. If I were Director of the Census, I would make sure that filling out a Census online would be possible. This would save a lot of time and money. In addition, the Department of Commerce could allocate funding to other Latino organizations that are trusted in the community to facilitate the Census. Such organizations can set up in front of churches, community centers, or their own offices with computers and internet access allowing for people to fill out the Census right there and then. They can target communities with a dense Latino population and be a friendly, honest face that Latinos already trust. If this were to work out, it would eliminate a lot of room for error. Hopefully, in the next 10 years the Census can prepare for a technologically advanced Census form and more Latinos ready to be counted.

What has been the most challenging moment in your internship experience?

My most challenging experience has been networking. The people we meet on a daily basis are constantly meeting other people, so making an impression in minutes matters. Networking is part of the lifestyle, which is something I’m still getting used to. It’s challenging because you always have to be prepared for anything wherever you are. Although I say it’s challenging, it is also a lot of fun because I never know the kind of people I am going to meet or what you’re going to have in common. With meeting all these new people, I also learn something new everyday, which is very exciting. For instance, meeting people from different organizations has educated me about different opportunities that are available in DC. It is the halfway mark of the program, and we have already experienced so much and there is still more ahead of us.

Grassroots Organizing

The importance of grassroots organizing was very evident during the Obama campaign.  The core of his campaign was based on politics run by a community and he was able to take the model of grassroots organizing, which is rooted on a local level, and expand it to a national level.  I was able to witness the importance of grassroots organizing for the Obama campaign as well as for voter registration on a very local level in my own community.  Although some people are hesitant when a stranger knocks on their door, others see it as a more personal way to be exposed to the political process.  It also allows for people who are not interested in the political process to become more interested and more involved.

Highlights Of My First Week

The first week of Capitol Hill was one of the most intimidating days since arriving in Washington, DC. Congress was not in session but the office was extremely busy. I was quickly trained on the first day and began answering phones and reading constituent letters. At first, I received small responsibilities but pretty soon I was receiving larger assignments. The highlight since the first day was meeting Congressman Ciro Rodriguez and learning how friendly the office truly is. I plan on attending more briefings and speaking to the staff on specific topics that interest me. I look forward to continuing to work hard and learning more about the legislative process.

Week 1

For the first week in DC, I feel that as interns we have already learned so much.  First, the atmosphere in DC is completely different than any where else in the United States because it is the focal point for the leadership in our nation.  These leaders main role is to represent their people.  Leadership in the capitol of the United States means to represent and vocalize the needs of people.  The Latino population is not represented properly in the area of higher education and many of the leaders here focus on that aspect.  The perspective of Latinos is that we are a growing population and thus those numbers should correlate to the amount of people involved in politics, receiving a college education, and there needs to be more Latinos with professional careers.  Overall, I am very grateful to be meeting Latinos in the community who want the Latino community to expand in positive ways.