I was never really into politics. It just seemed so convoluted and anytime I listened to a speech, I found the speaker to be fake and was left with a bad taste in my mouth. Hindsight being 20/20, I shouldn’t be so narrow-minded, thinking all politicians or campaigns are the same. So, I’m beginning to shift my mindset.
I partly blame the show Scandal for my new fascination with politics. If you haven’t seen it, you absolutely should check it out Thursday nights on ABC. While the show isn’t real, it does show parts of the political system coupled with an all-star cast. Additionally, being on a college campus during the 2008 election was an insane experience. I remember going to vote for the first time, feeling so empowered that little old me had a voice. When President Obama won, the campus exploded; people were literally dancing in the streets. It was like nothing I had seen before.
Last night, I attended a fundraiser for Reshma Saujani, a candidate for Public Advocate in New York City. I had glanced at her website, but wanted to learn more. Hearing her speak, you can tell how passionate she is about changing the city and about education, especially for young girls. While I still want to do more research, I think I might want to be a part of her campaign in some way. Regardless, last night’s event was a great experience where I got to network and learn more about a position within the government I barely even knew existed.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to quit my job to go work on campaigns around the city. I might not even volunteer for one. But between last night’s event, watching the State of the Union address and becoming addicted to Scandal, I’m developing more of an interest in politics. This is something I never thought would happen.
When you’re fresh out of school, you think you have a set plan complete with all the answers about your dream job and favorite interests. Reality check friends, you don’t have all the answers and your interests, passions and jobs will change. The more you are exposed to, the more you learn about yourself. I would have never attended last night’s event if a family friend hadn’t reached out to me, saying it would be beneficial for me to attend. I learned that I need to be more open-minded and see where that takes me.
Check back to see updates on Reshma’s campaign and if I continue my new fascination with politics.
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