I came into CAUSE expecting it to be a rigorous, intense program completely focused on professional development. While this did not prove to be false, what I truly brought out of CAUSE with a group of thirteen new friends and a new understanding of community.
Let me explain. Having been in policy spaces since high school, “fun” was probably the last word I would ever use to describe them. While I respected the people in these spaces and admired the work that they do, my interactions in those spaces felt more dry than friendly. The idea of community within these spaces seemed completely foreign.
Yet these last nine weeks at CAUSE have opened my eyes to an entirely new version of community. During my time at this program, I have seen how the AANHPI community continually lifts each other up, with no ulterior motives but to support others. Rather than transactional conversations, the question I continually heard was “What can I do to help you?”. This attitude of humility and true desire to uplift students was such an inspiration and something I hope to carry into my career.
And, of course, there is so much fun! One of the best things I’ve discovered about community is how much of a family it can be. As important as banding together in solidarity as a community is, the best part is being there for the highs and the lows, experiencing the best and the worst life has to throw at us together. While this means mourning the losses together, it also means celebrating the victories together.
The best part of my time at CAUSE has been witnessing the transformation of our cohort into a living, breathing community. From our beginnings as confused college students searching for something to make their summer meaningful, we have truly grown into a family. This means connecting each other to those who can provide helpful insight to a potential career, working hard to plan fun outings to encourage cohort bonding, checking in on one another when life gets hard, and so so much more. I’m so thankful for this community that we’ve grown and I’m excited to see it blossom far beyond this summer.