Fellowship 2022: Aarav Kumar
My time in Senator Gopal’s office has been very interesting and has constantly kept me on my toes. Even when doing seemingly monotonous tasks such as answering phones or responding to emails, I always feel like I’m getting something out of it whether that is learning more about certain bills on the Senate floor, getting to know constituents, or anything else. Before the internship I was particularly excited to learn about constituent services and how the Office of the Senator dealt with consistent complaints or requests for help. However, as this internship progressed, I have become more interested in the policy side of things and enjoy researching and finding bills over dealing with constituent issues.
There are a few other interns at Senator Gopal’s office on any given day and this has really made everything more comfortable because we can always ask each other questions when we are unsure of things, and it overall makes for a better atmosphere. By having such a nice atmosphere for work, it makes everything more enjoyable and makes the whole office less tense.
Something that I also found very interesting was how the staff of the Senator have to constantly sort through all of the different constituent requests to meet with Senator Gopal, and choose only a few of them. I was also thoroughly surprised by the fact that the Senator only had four full time employees and a few interns working for him as I thought it would be a larger operation.
One of the best things that I have done in the internship so far was sitting in on a webinar about teachers rights and taking notes on it. Not only was this a change of pace from what I am normally doing, but I felt like I learned a lot from the panel of experts, and am interested to see what other webinars I will have a chance to sit in on. I have also been given the chance to go to certain events outside of the work hours, which I never thought would happen. Overall, this internship has been very interesting so far and constantly keeps me on my toes and surprises me.
Fellowship 2022: Samirah Hussain
I started out in this program unsure of what to expect. I remembered Ishan telling us that this program was what we make of it, and I was determined to juice every last drop of knowledge and experience this program could give me. My internship in Assemblyman Benson’s office has afforded me with a deep understanding of the NJ legislature, lobbying, and constituent services. It is so inspiring to see how passionate constituents are over certain issues. Some constituents have even started campaigns and petitions for their causes. It motivates me to advocate for the causes I believe in as well. While researching bills, I have learned about issues I didn’t even know existed and battles I didn’t even know needed fighting. I recently did research on a proposed 24% increase in health insurance premiums by the state, and was outraged that this could occur when New Jersey citizens were already suffering from inflation. It gave me a deeper respect for the legislators, lobbyists and public servants that fight these battles on our behalf. It made me want to be on the front lines of similar battles.
Additionally, this program has pushed me out of my comfort zone, particularly with networking. Networking is no easy skill, and can be quite nerve-wracking at first. Through the speakership series and events thrown by the Assemblyman, I have gained confidence in my abilities to talk to new people and expand my network. Furthermore, it is truly moving to hear the stories of other South Asian women in politics through our speakership series. More so, it is difficult not to admire how they found success and fulfillment in politics even when undermined and underestimated, fueled by courage and determination. I hope to embody these qualities as I move forward with my career in politics.
Fellowship 2022: Humnah Poonawalla
Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the heavy glass doors, about to take my first step as the new intern at Assemblyman Scharfenberger and Assemblywoman Flynn’s offices. Little did I know that it would mark the start of an amazing journey of growth, self-reflection, and learning. Throughout my time there, I didn’t just learn the basics of the legislative process, but also shaped my mindset and way of thinking. Specifically, I conducted a host of policy research, especially in relation to aiding local small business, as well as mitigating educational learning loss in schools due to Covid-19. I’ve learned all about governmental affairs, how to draft bills, present them to large groups, and convince people to vote in favor of the legislation.
I was consistently supported and encouraged by those around me to go beyond my comfort zone, coming up with novel policy solutions to everyday problems. For example, in order to help small business flourish once again after the pandemic, as well as promote technological development, I came up with a program that offered grant money / tax incentives for small businesses that partnered with local universities in order to further Research and Development (R&D) projects. That is but one instance of the work I was able to accomplish during my time, all while making an impact in the community. Being in an office environment, I was also able to gain essential social skills from observing and interacting with officials and staff members. I now have a toolkit of assets that will accompany me wherever I go, and I’m happy to say that I have walked away from this internship a different person than when I first walked in.
Fellowship 2022: Shriya Dani
As I wrap up my internship at Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips's office for the summer, I have had some time for reflection. I have had an excellent experience, as I've gotten the opportunity to learn about the state legislative process in a depth I never fully understood. Entering this program, I was not very educated on the legislative world and government affairs, and I was worried that I would be the only one with a lack of knowledge. However, I quickly realized that NJ Lead’s entire mission was to educate us and inflict a passion for legislative change in whatever our personal passions are.
Throughout my time as a fellow, I had the honor of having an excellent partner in the office, who as a retired nurse, was able to tell me stories that served my interests in both the medical field and the political field. She offered me the chance to draft two memos for possible bills I personally believe carry an importance. For one memo, I wrote about increased attention toward the mental health of physicians in the healthcare system, perhaps by introducing new programs at the structural level to help break down stigma at the organizational level. The second memo was about the importance of safety on Election Day in schools; I proposed a uniform approach to the logistics of school opening on Election Day with increased security measures to ensure student safety. Thus, even as a novice, I have learned and accomplished more than I thought I could over the past four weeks.
Aside from my internship at the office, I have also had the opportunity to listen to and learn from leaders in different parts of the field. They have discussed many things with us: advocacy, government, politics and campaigning. But most importantly, we heard their stories. I realized that so many of our leaders started off in a similar position as myself: confused about their future, not sure where they were really heading with various interests, but positively moving forward and learning from their experiences nevertheless. Hearing their stories has comforted and motivated me to take strides for change, starting in my own community.
As I emerge as a budding member of public service, I will be sure to take all the lessons I’ve learned through the NJ Lead program with me. I will keep in mind the importance of bipartisan relationships, while also sticking true to my personal values and beliefs. I will continue to push past my boundaries, but I will not let anyone step into mine. Most importantly, I will continue to serve confidently, bringing a new generation of change.