Experiences on The Hill
The highlight of my time working on Capitol Hill has without a doubt been my office’s involvement in the on-going debt ceiling negotiations. As co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressman Raul Grijalva has been doing a lot of press over the past few weeks. His high visibility has increased the amount of work for staff and we have all risen to the challenge. Long hours and jam-packed phone lines have been fairly common. However in spite of the sometimes hectic environment I am incredibly proud to be on staff with a group of such hardworking and forthright individuals. Knowing that Congressman Grijalva is truly fighting the good fight helps keep me motivated in the most trying of times.
Though some of my proudest moments have occurred during these debt negotiations, I have faced some of my most challenging moments as well. In addition to supporters, Congressman Grijalva’s high visibility has drawn out a few detractors and critics as well. I have spoken with a small but vocal minority of callers who not only disagree with the Congressman’s positions but also some callers who were simply mean-spirited and even racist at times. The first time I took such a call, I was shocked and even felt a bit discouraged. However, after speaking with very supportive staffers I managed to set those feelings aside and continued working as though unfazed. This experience has definitely taught me lessons in perseverance and determination. At times the challenges we face in life can seem insurmountable but it is often up to us as young leaders to work through difficulties to ensure that the issues and causes we support continue to move forward in spite of confrontation. My time on Capitol Hill has reinforced the importance of determination and perseverance as part of being a good leader. These lessons will no doubt be with me throughout the rest of my education and into my future career; a career I now envision on Capitol Hill.
