Goals Attained: An NYLC Alum’s Journey to a Career on Capitol Hill

There I was, 16 years old and sitting face to face with Rep. James Clyburn in the 6th congressional district’s office in Washington, DC.

As an attendee at a 2000 National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, DC I was given the opportunity to meet with my congressional representative. Quite frankly, at that age, I never thought I'd be able to meet with Congressman Clyburn. Much less in person, one on one...in his own office!

I wanted to make the most of my encounter with him and ask him a "grown-up" question. You know, something to hang my hat on when I came back home to tell my parents about the visit. Imagine my own astonishment when I heard the words, "So do you know where Nichols is on a map, Congressman?" come out of my mouth. He looked me square in the eyes and in his deep voice deadpanned, "I sure do Neal. It's in eastern Marion County. Right there across the Little Pee Dee River from Mullins. You guys in Nichols are over in two counties. Marion and Horry. Y'all are a growing city spanning two congressional districts!"

I can't remember what we talked about after that but I do remember how comfortable he made me feel in his office. That day changed my perception of politicians. Congressman Clyburn showed me how politicians are approachable and welcome a handshake and smile just the same as everyone else. Two things happened that day that changed my life: first, Congressman Clyburn almost made me a Democrat and second, from that moment on, I knew I wanted to be in politics.

The Roots of a Life’s Passion

My parents exposed me to world news and politics from a young age. I remember watching as events such as the demolition of the Berlin Wall and the commencement of Operation Desert Storm were covered on television. At home, our dinner hour revolved around the local and national news broadcasts. At the time, I never knew how much these dinner sessions would affect my life. Keeping up with world events forced me to read more.

Finishing college and graduating from law school armed me with the necessary skill set to take on the world. However, I quickly felt the itch to get back into politics.

Starting at the Bottom

As is the case with many endeavors in life, you have to be willing to start from the very bottom and work your way up the ladder to success. Proving yourself to the organization is the main goal.

So in August of 2010, I began interning with a congressional office on Capitol Hill. Interning entails many things, none of which includes collecting a pay check. Therefore, I was able to test my own resolve by seeing just how much I enjoyed working on Capitol Hill without pay.

Initially, the work I was given kept me humble, comprising tasks such as answering phones, licking envelopes and delivering mail. Slowly, I took on more meaningful tasks such as answering constituent mail and writing short speeches. After four months of proving myself, the office offered me a full time position.

Coming Full Circle

I am now the Communications Director and Counsel for another congressman in a different delegation. The process I went through taught me more than I could have imagined, including humility. And that, like peace of mind, is priceless. I am thankful to have received both by interning.

Thanks to the exposure the NYLC program gave me in high school, I was confident of the career path I wanted to pursue. It opened my eyes to the world of politics, and ultimately proved to be a game changer for me. I now work on Capitol Hill.