As I sit in my new room, I think back on what got me here and why I am here. What brought me to the capital and what do I want to get accomplished? Better yet, what will I learn here that will radically alter the way I view life, the world, and people? I'm usually not too deep of a person, but I feel that this is an opportunity that cannot be wasted. I am a cog in the mechanism that changes the world, a member of a team. I cannot change the world myself but I can make a difference and I can serve those I will never meet. I don't know everything, but as long as I keep my heart and mind open to the ways in which God is using me then I can help accomplish something amazing - the improvement of other's lives.

In the past I have worked in my community in various ways, but never in a capacity as I have the opportunity to now. Over the next week I will begin my my internship and other opportunities to use policy to make a difference for those who don't get to speak for themselves. I am excited about the opportunity to use my skills to help improve the lives of others. I'm also excited about the opportunity to learn from those I come in contact with - the diversity of people and their experiences is amazing.

“Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly just cynics. Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying “yes” begins things. Saying “yes” is how things grow. Saying “yes” leads to knowledge. “Yes” is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say “yes'.”
― Stephen Colbert