Intern Anais Sornkatetin taking notes during a panel at LA city hall
Even as we pass the halfway mark of this internship, the initial questions I had coming into CLA continue to shape my reflections and takeaways from our experiences. In my first blog post, I grappled with how to balance my desire to enact widespread change through public policy with my passion for direct service. At the time, as I revised my ninety-second elevator pitch in preparation for networking, I viewed these two paths as a critical choice that would define the rest of my career trajectory. While the comprehensive civic engagement framework presented by Executive Director Nancy Yap helped me begin to visualize what it may look like to merge these two approaches, I was still searching for a definitive answer: either a way to reconcile these seemingly divergent paths or make a decision once and for all.
Professor Dan Schnur having lunch with the interns
However, as I delved deeper into our workshops and conversations, my perspective on this "choice" began to shift. It was during a one-on-one discussion with Professor Dan Schnur, who led a messaging workshop, that I received a piece of advice that reframed the entire dilemma. Dan didn’t ask me which path I wanted to choose for my future. Instead, he asked, "Which one do you want to do first?" He emphasized that our careers are long, and there’s ample time to engage in both wide change (through public policy) and deep change (through direct service).
Shortly after, when we went to Sacramento for our Capitol Summit, this perspective was exemplified to me through Deputy Treasurer Stephanie Tom’s career journey. Her abrupt switch from the technology industry in the private sector to public service with the state government highlighted that our careers don’t have to follow a straight, narrow line. It’s possible to navigate different sectors and make impactful changes at various points in one's career.
While I initially had ambitions to do both wide and deep change simultaneously, further discussions with CLA alumni currently working in the capitol, who talked of long hours and a strong commitment to their work, also made me realize the importance of doing what’s within my capacity. It’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to do everything, but it’s also essential to recognize that pacing oneself is crucial for long-term success and sustainability.
While I still believe it’s possible to balance both paths in small ways—like working in government by day and volunteering with mutual aid at night—I now feel more at peace with the idea of pursuing my passions sequentially. This approach doesn’t mean abandoning one path for the other. Rather, it acknowledges that there is a time and place for everything in a long and fulfilling career. The journey is not about making a one-time, all-or-nothing choice, but about recognizing that the choices we make today are just the first steps in a much larger, evolving path.
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 Anais Sornkatetin, 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.