The Personal Statement

I was taught as a child that one person can make a difference in this country. Luckily in the years since then, I have found this to be true. As an adult I have had the opportunity to work in many fields in which one person can make the difference in the lives of others. I have worked with community and nonprofit organizations that provide services for underrepresented populations, and I see a need in providing additional services for these communities. As a member of a community service organization I had the opportunity to become the state Governmental Affairs Program Manager and accumulate valuable experience as a leader. Furthermore, since coming to CSU, Chico as a student I have taken advantage of several leadership opportunities. The idea that "one person can make a difference" is not a new theory to me. For many years, I have hoped for an opportunity to intern in Washington, D.C. so that I could more substantially contribute to the betterment of our country. As a young mother living in Georgia, I felt compelled to join a community service organization and donate my time to help my local community. Our local chapter held a festival that attracted 250,000 people to our community, which in turn boosted the local economy. The money raised from the festival was used to purchase Christmas presents and food baskets for families in need and paid for scholarships given to high school students. On the state level, I attended several sessions of Model Legislature and was the program manager on one occasion. This state governmental training tool stressed the importance of government in all areas of life. In Model Legislature, members are encouraged to write bills and submit them for approval during the legislative session. Held in the actual house and senate chambers of the Georgia General Assembly, the top five bills that come out of conference committee are submitted to the general assembly. Several laws in the state have come from these model sessions. For instance, the so called "drive-thru" maternity wards ban, donor cards on the back of driver's licenses, and the installation of an extending arm on the front bumper of all school buses in the state to promote safety. I was honored to have the opportunity to teach others the importance of the legislative process and to participate as a citizen of my local community. The Panetta Internship is another opportunity for me to actively participate as a citizen. After participating in the internship, I will return to CSU, Chico to express to fellow students the importance of their voice being heard as constituents and as citizens. Since arriving at CSU, Chico, I have taken Margaret Gunnell's Alternative Dispute Resolution class, which has given me an understanding of negotiation that is a skill in high demand in Congress. As a student at CSU, Chico I testified before the Higher Education Committee of the California Assembly regarding a change in the funding of CalGrants. Thankfully, the bill that I testified for, A.B. 2813 passed through committee unanimously and became law in September of 2006. I have also completed Professor Stanley's Civil Rights/Civil Liberties course, which has given me insight regarding issues frequently discussed in Congress. I am presently enrolled in Diana Dwyre's Congress class. I now have a better understanding of the relationship of the "two Congresses" and why negotiation is such an important skill. Currently, I am the Coordinating Editor of Production for Studium and as such, the organizational right hand to Sharon Barrios. These classes and others have not only given me analytical, negotiating, editing, and organizational skills, but they have also given me the qualifications and esteem to be the CSU, Chico Panetta Congressional Intern. I realize there is not simply one person in Washington making a difference in our lives, ultimately, however, one person has the idea to create each piece of legislation and one person has to answer to his or her constituents back home. Working for a member of the House of Representatives as a Panetta Intern would be an amazing experience for me. My qualifications working in Georgia and at CSU, Chico paired with my experiences as a member of several underrepresented communities make me an excellent candidate for this internship. I would treasure the opportunity to go to Washington, D.C. where I would not only represent these communities, but also CSU, Chico as an ethical and upstanding student citizen. No other internship is fully funded to allow any student to participate, and this makes the Panetta Internship an opportunity of a lifetime for me.

The Question

Several weeks ago, the chair of the Political Science Department at California State University, Chico, where I am a senior student, asked me if I knew anything about the Panetta Institute's Congressional Internship. I knew the name Leon Panetta, but knew nothing about the internship. She explained the internship and the application process, asked me several questions about my family and how they would feel about me going to Washington D.C. for so long. I told her that they would be proud and that they have told me that if I had an opportunity like this, in the words of my husband Charles, "Go For It!" Professor Dwyre proceeded to take me to the political science office and give me an application. I spent the next week writing my personal statement and gathering materials for intern application packet. The personal statement was to include: information as to why I want to become a congressional intern, and why I feel I am qualified for the position. And the packet was to also include: a letter of recommendation from a member of the faculty, as well as, an copy of my transcript, and a current resume. The packet complete and delivered, I began to become nervous and excited about the prospect of going to Washington, D.C. as an intern! In my nervousness, I kept saying to myself, "You are a 42 year old woman, what are you thinking, Elizabeth?" I did not have long to wait for the word to come, it was official the day after the application deadline. My husband and I had an interesting experience on the way to the banquet where we received the news. The car overheated and at one point Charlie was in a ditch filling jugs of water to put in the radiator. We limped our way to the banquet and the car was able to cool down for awhile. I was quickly given the news: I am the CSU, Chico, Panetta Institute Congressional Intern for 2007. I could think of nothing else for several days and the news is finally sinking in my brain. I was so excited, I could barely concentrate and completing class work was next to impossible, EVEN for Congress class! This is not just any intership! The Panetta Institute fully funds each intern in the program, for more information about the specifics of the internship, check out: http://www.panettainstitute.org/. I have created this blog to keep my friends, family, and mentors informed about what I am doing while in Washington, D.C. In addition, I have created this blog to be a log of: the journey I will be taking, the experiences I will be having, and the people I will have the opportunity to meet. Photographs and internet links will be included, when they are available, and I will try to make the blog as interactive as possible - for those that don't like to, just read!! I have named my blog, Mrs. Graham Goes to Washington, because I am one of those people!! (Have you seen Mr. Smith lately; always a good show??!!) I am thankful for my friend and personal editor, Amanda, without whom I am certain my statement would not have been as compelling. And Sharon, thank you for your support and unfailing belief in my abilities. To all my friends, family, and mentors that may be reading this blog, I welcome you to my blog and thank you for your support during this most exciting time in my life. I invite you to reply to my blog, let me know how you are doing, and ask me any questions you may have. I will try to find time to post several times throughout the week as the time draws nearer and while in Washington, I hope to post more often. Until next time, eliza