Stepping On New Ground
By Yin Ma
I have been a concert pianist since I was six years old, and Iwould never have thought in my wildest dreams that I would be able to find theopportunity to intern in a United States Senator's office when I am seventeen.But that is exactly what I have been doing this past summer: working in theoffice of Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota.
A couple of years ago, I had started searching for theopportunity to do some volunteer work and get some job experience. In part I waspreparing for my college application but most importantly I wanted the chance toenrich myself as a person. I have always been particularly strong in music andpursuing a career as a concert pianist has been at most times the only thingthat I did. However, as I grew older, I began to realize that a completeimmersion in my career not only didn't benefit my music but also did it muchharm. Music is based on life and only the experiences and knowledge from allaspects of life can give a musician the true ability to understand and expressthat music.
I really didn't know where to start in mysearch but I did know that I wanted to work in a place that benefited manypeople. Then, at one of my concerts in D.C.'s Kennedy Center I had the privilegeof meeting Senator Johnson and his chief of staff, Drey Samuelson - both of whomhad been invited by one of our mutual friends. The next day, Senator Johnsoninvited me and my family to lunch with him in the Senate dining room; one of thethings that he said during our conversation made me realize I had just foundwhat I've been searching for. He said that the reason he chose to become a U.S.Senator was because he believed that that was the best way to bring about changeand to make a difference. Even though there is philanthropy and charities, beinga part of the U.S. government meant that if you really wanted to, you could makeAmerican and the whole world a better place for everyone. To intern for someoneand be in the midst of many people like him, who devoted their whole lives to agoal you looked up to, is both an honor and luck.
I applied and when they notified me of my acceptance - told me that I wouldstart my first day on June 17, 2002. Everyday during the internship was filledwith such excitement and the chance to learn so much. It doesn't matter whattype of career you choose to pursue in the future, the knowledge you gain inthis internship will serve you well in anything. Not only did we learn how toperform normal office procedures such as answering the phones, processing dataon the computer, meeting with guests and constituents, etc. - we became familiarwith the most important current events and participated in history makingmoments that can happen any minute in the Senate.
I was in the House floor when the House ofRepresentatives voted to expel Representative James A. Trafficant Jr. fromCongress; I heard Alan Greenspan's semi-annual report on monetary policy;attended Enron and Worldcom hearings and heard the lectures of Donald Rumsfield,Colin Powell and Al Gore. I also met Hilary Clinton, Laura Bush, Tom Dashcle(Majority Leader of the Senate), Angelina Jolie and many other celebrities thatfrequent the Senate.
Locations de vacnaces Valencia There is so much that Ican write about this experience but it all comes down to one thing: it waslife-changing. So I encourage all my fellow peers to apply and become part of agreat opportunity that is waiting for bright, young people like you. I remembersomething that Colin Powell said during his lecture: "All of the internsand young people standing here today are the future and strength of America". I believe that is very true because America's future is in ourhands and it is our duty to seek the best of knowledge that will help us serveAmerica and the people that we are part of.
luxury hotels in Mikonos As for me, music will always remain a big part of my life but I am too young andthere are too many opportunities on my horizon for me to settle on only onething.