In a move that will surprise absolutely nobody that knows me, I should be packing right now, but clearly, I am not. I have a lot to finish up in the…oh…4.5 hours I have left here. Figures.
I am having a hard time believing how quickly this summer went by, and an even harder time comprehending how good my summer was. I firmly believe that you make your own destiny, and if you want things to happen, you make them happen. Either that or I got someone else’s karma by mistake. If it’s yours, then no, you can’t have it back. Sorry.
My internship out here has already paid off, and I have a few potential options after graduation that I am quite excited about. The experience here gives me a definite hand up on the competition as well. I have yet to decide if I am staying in California, going back to Nevada, or if I’m returning to D.C. after graduation, but we’ll see what awaits in the near future.
My first year at Pepperdine really prepared me for my internship. Granted, I had some decent work experience in Congress and a previous Senate internship under my belt, but my coursework and the things I learned in my first year are part of the reason I did so well this summer. I can’t wait to get back and see what the second year has in store.
Speaking of which, for any of the incoming first-years that may be reading this, I will be returning to campus on the 24th for the first-year orientation and will be discussing some of the student organizations with some of my fellow classmates. I am a part of the Student Health Advisory Board, so I’ll be talking a bit about that along with my friend Jeff.
In addition to this, we have a new project. We have a group of first and second-year students that are in the beginning of bringing a chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha, the honorary society for the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (whew!). I am excited about the opportunities that this presents our school and our student body. If we get it sorted out, I already have a potential speaker lined up with some other possibilities in the works as well.
Anyhow, I’ll likely be discussing this as well on the 24th, so get pumped. I am looking forward to meeting the new class, and I hope that you all enjoy SPP as much as I have. It is not hyperbole to say that this school has totally changed my life – I feel so much more prepared to take on the problems facing our communities, our states, and our world. I wish there were words to express my love for Pepperdine. Perhaps I’ll find them someday.
Another rambling blog post down. More from Vegas, because I should really finish packing. I leave D.C. knowing a great deal more and being richer for the experience, and thankful for how fortunate I am.
See you in Malibu.
I can’t believe the summer is over already! I wish I were returning to Malibu…not so much, though.
I just had to drop a line and agree with you; I feel the same way about Pepperdine Law.
I really had no idea how well we were trained until I started interning. Even while I was working abroad, I would get the craziest assignments–it was always a pleasant surprise to feel the auto-pilot kick on.
I’m not really sure how to explain it; it was as though I automatically knew where to start even when I had absolutely no familiarity with the assignment or issue. It’s an unbelievably comforting feeling.
By: Mona Hatoum on August 10, 2009
at 11:24 am