By: Alisha Veera
2020 has been synonymous with uncertainty. It has been a roller coaster ride, sometimes with experiences that have helped us grow, and other times with moments that have questioned our future. Most people have learned that nothing is set in stone.
Being a Bergen County native — an area that was at one time the epicenter of COVID-19 cases in New Jersey — was a rude awakening. It was only a matter of time before I realized that my summer would not be what I imagined. Fortunately, through NJLP’s determination and hard work, all the fellows had been placed, even in a COVID world.
Being placed remotely at Assemblyman Raj Mukherji’s office has been a unique experience. I do not drive on the highway, or really move anywhere. I do not work from 9 to 5 everyday. I do not complete assignments in a physical workplace. Instead, it is a different experience. I stay at home, working in my room on any assignments Assemblyman Mukherji’s Chief of Staff assigns me. Although a virtual internship may not be ideal, whether it be due to the lack of a physical work environment or the lack of opportunity to engage with constituents and their concerns, these past two weeks have proven to be just as educational and necessary. Even more, it seems that any assistance I can give has magnanimous effects in this current world.
The uncertainties did not end with our placements — we must not forget the weekly speakership series. While there may have been challenges, the speakership series continued, virtually. This past Saturday we had the pleasure of hearing from Assemblyman Dan Benson, Amit Jani, and Rohit Ram Tallapragada.
Our first speaker was Assemblyman Dan Benson, who represented the 14th District. He started by explaining how a high school class pushed him, a STEM-focused student, into politics, and how his persistence and competitive nature in the early years of his career enabled his continued presence in town, county and state politics. Through our questions, we were able to have a discussion about current national politics and its effect on the Assemblyman’s work, his opinions on topics such as NJ Transit, and the lessons he has learned as a Councilman, Freeholder, and Assemblyman. I was impressed by how his early experiences in politics did not negatively impact him. As a young candidate in Hamilton Township and later in Mercer County, he was not provided mentorship from experienced politicians, who saw him as a future opponent, yet he has used those setbacks to become a mentor for young people, like the fellows.
Following this engaging conversation, we were able to talk to Amit Jani, the founder and president of New Jersey Leadership Fellowship and the National Asian American Pacific Islander Director for the Biden for President campaign. Even while changing majors or preferred occupations, he always knew that he wanted to help people, eventually becoming involved in politics. As expected, we took this as an opportunity to learn about the inner workings of the Biden campaign. Questions about whether Trump voters were embarrassed to say they were voting for him, skewing polling data, or the biggest weaknesses of the Vice President’s campaign, or even about how the campaign is affected due to the party’s shift farther left due to policy agendas of Senator Sanders, Senator Warren, or even Representative Ocasio-Cortez. While some Americans may have hesitancy about Vice President Biden’s campaign, he confidently spoke about the Vice President’s ability to win the election and prove to be an empathetic and caring President, especially during these tumultuous times. It was probably the closest look we would get to the campaign and Presidential election. However, looking back, I really wish I asked who the Vice President pick is or is most likely to be.
Our last speaker of the day was Rohit Ram Tallapragada, a research assistant at the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (Division of Civil Rights) and NJLP Board Member. Like the rest of the speakers, we learned about how he became involved in politics and government and about his work in housing discrimination at the Division of Civil Rights. More importantly, this was an opportunity to speak to someone closer to our age — someone we would be able to relate to. Through our discussion, we were able to understand his current job, and how it has been affected by COVID. We also learned about the importance of networking and tips to make networking efficient in a COVID world.
Through the past months, the global pandemic has left everyone filled with uncertainty, yet the world has not stopped revolving. While we are setting into a new normal of conducting internships remotely and have discussions with speakers over Zoom, the program has persisted to give us the best experience we can in this situation. It may be different than what any of us may have imagined, yet these opportunities have created a sense of normalcy. A world where we can continue to learn, work and grow. Sure, I might be sad about the canceled DC trip, but to work in a world of uncertainty has its own perks and thrills!