Campaigning is tough. Period.
As the candidate for Team Horio — #HorioForAHealthy49, by the way! — I have learned much about the campaign process. The biggest takeaway for me is this: they are NOT my thing. Let me explain
Interns Eliana Kim and Ryan Horio listen intently to Community Organizer Harsirat Kaur speak
I came to CAUSE in hopes of learning about what avenues we can take to create systemic change. Policy was one interest, but I was also curious about elected office given my ability in public speaking and knack for leadership.
With the mock campaign, I gained valuable insight on what it takes to run a campaign—perseverance, grit, and most of all, a leap of faith. With every decision our campaign team makes, there is no guarantee that it will land with our audience and gain us more votes. Knowing that we could do everything right but still not win is a very tough pill to swallow.
Intern Ryan Horio speaks up about his experience with microaggressions
But with every experience comes an opportunity for growth. Closing this door doesn’t mean an end to my journey in civic engagement, but rather, a clearer redirection in the path I am meant to pursue. Now, I can focus more effort on exploring other political avenues to systemic change without wondering if elected office is for me — and it still is, specifically in the realm of our mock campaign, and in which you should definitely still vote for Team Horio!
Mock Campaign Team A pose for a picture in front of Monterey Park Service Clubhouse
This redirection has made my path clearer, and it has also reaffirmed my values of collaboration and the importance of fostering community. Working with my campaign team and the CAUSE staff has been a journey, and I can confidently say that I would not be able to run for office or have grown this much without having them by my side. In whatever spaces I enter in the future — whether it be in civic engagement, healthcare, public policy, or mutual aid activism — my experiences with CAUSE staff and my cohort will always remind me to build community and to connect with others.
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 Ryan Horio, Leadership Academy 2024 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.