When I envision my future, I see myself working in some form of public service. Whether it be through government or another avenue, I know that I want to help people. So, when I heard about the Ward Fellowship, I knew that it was an opportunity that I could not pass up. My passion for public service and government was ignited when I applied for the Boston Mayor’s Youth Council in the tenth grade. It was through these meetings that I met new people of diverse economic, racial, religious, and cultural backgrounds that all had different ways of perceiving the issues our city faces. These students inspired me to have an open mind and believe that I can make a difference in the world. The other thing that has pushed me towards a career of helping others is my experience co-founding and working on the non-profit organization “Anna’s Pals.” It was founded by myself, my friends, and the family of my late best friend Anna. We lost Anna to leukemia in the fall of 2014 and it was devastating to us all. Although I miss Anna terribly and want nothing more than her to be here, it has made me stronger and more resilient, and for that, I am grateful. “Anna’s Pals” raises money in order to buy summer homes for cancer patients and keep them up to the high standards of cleanliness so that sick children have a fun, safe place to go when given leave out of the hospital.
So far, I have been loving working at the statehouse for Representative Nick Collins. What I hope to get out of this experience is some guidance towards the specific career I would like to pursue in the public sector. I know that if I am diligent and committed, this opportunity can lead to so much more. I am very much looking forward to rest of the summer and my future career in public service.