The past 2 weeks have been so much fun! I have learned a tremendous amount, made really good friends, bonded with the California team, witnessed the power of a conversation, and feel absolutely empowered. I am going to be working on registering students to vote, educating the community on water saving tips, and our lead campaign is getting the city of Irvine to "go solar"! There are a lot of facts that can make things look really bleak, but luckily the organization looks at the positive and finds solutions! I wish things in politics weren't such a long process and we could change things immediately... but that's democracy. And I'm thankful that this country was founded as a democracy.
I just love how life works out sometimes. If you would have told me a month ago that I would be moving to Southern California to be an organizer I would have told you, "Ummm I don't want to live in Southern California and what exactly is an organizer?" It's amazing how everything can change and how you can stumble upon something. I loved my time at Stetson, it was the home I needed after I moved from Louisiana. Transitioning out of it was hard because I did not know what I wanted to do, if what I wanted to do even existed, and hated the thought of leaving my home. But I am ready for this chapter of my life. It is time to move along and experience life! The most growth I've ever had was during the times of transition. I always learn more about myself, gain strength, meet amazing people, and become a better person because of it. I think everyone needs to step outside of their comfort zone and experience a total change at some point in their lives. It may be scary at first, but its a lot of fun and worth it!
I didn't think I would like L.A. but I've learned some cool things about it that make me excited to check it out! The number one thing I'm excited about is that the Ellen DeGeneres show is there! Ahhhhh I wanna be in the crowd one day! Other things I'm excited about are the eclectic, diverse food; Disneyland; Universal; trapeze at Santa Monica pier. It'll be a cool area to explore!
Now I am just waiting on my plane to head to Raleigh for a few days! Get to hang out with the family until Sunday and will then fly to San Francisco from there. I'll be in San Francisco area through the 29th, then in L.A. until Sept. 21st helping start the recruitment drives and work at the University of Southern California. I'll be working 12 hour days most of the time, so it will be really busy! But really exciting! I'm excited to meet some cool students who are eager to join our efforts. The best part about SGA was meeting students who were empowered and ready to make Stetson a better place and helping them realize their potential. I'm so excited to be able to do that for a career!
If you're like me and don't exactly know what an organizer is you can check out this blog about organizing! It is written by a former CALPIRG student who now works for the nonprofit, Cause. I have briefly skimmed it but like this article that is in response to a study about how politics in the US are influenced by the extremely wealthy. If I give off the vibe that I am opposed to be wealthy, I am not. I would like to make money just as much as the next guy, but I don't want to make more than humanly possible to spend in one lifetime. Everyone in this country could be a millionaire yet we have extremely impoverished communities because a tiny fraction of the population holds a majority of the wealth. Watch the documentary "Inequality For All". Most people stay in the social class they are born into because it is hard to get out of it. The American dream is diminishing and that is a tragedy. Anyways! Here's the blog.
Blog on Organizing
I'll write when I'm in California! Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
Love,
Alyssa
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