Having never been to Sacramento before, I had been looking forward to the Capitol Summit all summer, and I can confidently say, the trip did not disappoint. From panels with CAUSE alum to discussing mentorship with Bill Wong to having lunch with Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, our agenda was jam-packed with exciting activities. I left each session with new insights regarding Sacramento, politics, and managing relationships, and speaking with so many different staffers and leaders gave me a wide range of perspectives.
CLA interns with APICA interns and Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen.
Surprisingly, one of my most significant revelations during the Capitol Summit was that Sacramento may not necessarily be the place for me. I had entered the space trying to envision myself working in Sacramento one day, but the more I tried to see myself walking the streets of Sacramento or the hallways of the Capitol, the harder it was to see myself enjoying it.
CLA interns tour the Capitol.
My main concern with working in Sacramento is how policy-oriented and politically charged the environment is. As the legislative aides and directors discussed their roles in staffing bills, meeting with committee consultants, and navigating the politics of Sacramento, I found myself yearning for fieldwork at the district offices instead. Similarly, while Sophia Kwong Kim discussed how becoming a committee consultant was her dream job, where she had the opportunity to read and analyze bills and policies in order to become an expert in her specific policy area, I found myself dreading that type of work. Of course, I enjoy staying informed on current events, policies, and legislation, but to sit at a desk for hours at a time just reading and analyzing legislation is not something that I would ever dream of doing—at least not now. This is not to say that I wouldn’t be open to exploring the legislative side of governance—I firmly believe that you should try everything at least once before rejecting it—but compared to fieldwork, which consists of directly interacting with the community and constituents, I found the legislative side much less appealing. Although this may not have necessarily been the outcome I was initially expecting, it was still incredibly valuable for me to find out what I don’t necessarily want to do.
CLA interns outside the Capitol.
I also learned valuable lessons regarding leadership, managing professional relationships, and finding my place in the political world as an API woman. Allison Lim attributed her success to pushing herself out of her comfort zone, particularly in regards to managing Alex Lee’s campaign, despite having no prior experience, and she urged us not to shy away from a challenge but to instead strongly consider taking on a challenge. As well, she said that regardless of what job we find ourselves in, we should be in a position where we feel comfortable enough to voice our opinions, even if there are disagreements. Bill Wong reinforced this by saying that leadership is shared, not solely enforced through titles or positions. He said that effective leadership requires everyone to buy into the objective, not to solely follow orders. To do this, it is also important to draw boundaries with professional relationships, and both Bill and Annie Pham said that most of the people they manage aren’t their friends. In fact, Bill said that he’s not friends with Judy Chu, but they both worked together to accomplish an objective.
CLA interns with Bill Wong and Annie Pham.
Although the trip was only two days, I felt like I came away with invaluable insights and new perspectives, and although I can’t necessarily see myself working in the State Capitol, that in itself was a crucial revelation. And of course, spending the week with the other interns was a highlight, and I’m sad that this internship is ending soon.
CLA interns pretend to argue in a committee room.
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not reflect the views or positions of CAUSE or the CAUSE network.
Written by Angel Yuan, Leadership Academy 2023 Intern
The CAUSE Leadership Academy (CLA) for students is a nine-week, paid, internship program that prepares college undergraduates to lead and advocate for the Asian Pacific Islander community on their campuses and beyond.