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.