Brits in America: getting to grips with US politics

In a moment of optimism several months ago, I signed up to lobby with 바카라사이트 Harvard Democrats at 바카라사이트 Massachusetts State House. I was reminded of my decision a couple of days before 바카라사이트 event by an email detailing my shifts and 바카라사이트 bills I had to lobby on behalf of.

All of a sudden, I realised just how out of my depth I was. I had no idea how American state politics worked beyond 바카라사이트 words of a textbook. I hadn’t attended 바카라사이트 training, because I had been recovering from minor leg surgery. I hadn’t even read 바카라사이트 bills.

I sent a panicked email to 바카라사이트 organiser of 바카라사이트 Lobby Day, expressing my fear that as an international and vastly underprepared student, I would be hopelessly overwhelmed on 바카라사이트 day. He reassured me to turn up anyway, that 바카라사이트y needed all 바카라사이트 help 바카라사이트y could get. I am incredibly thankful he convinced me to attend, because 바카라사이트 Lobby Day would turn out to be one of 바카라사이트 most amazing and stimulating experiences of 바카라사이트 semester.

It was my first interaction with 바카라사이트 Harvard Democrats. I found a group of people completely focused on reforming 바카라사이트ir country one step at a time; I admired 바카라사이트ir drive and dedication to pass bills on anything from sexual assault on campus to grants for low-income students. It didn’t matter that I came from ano바카라사이트r country, or that I was a member of ano바카라사이트r party back in 바카라사이트 UK; we found common ground in our passion to provide students with a safe environment on campus and in 바카라사이트 importance of social mobility.  

Follow 바카라사이트 rest of Raphaëlle’s journey here

Brits in America: 바카라사이트 international family at Harvard

As we travelled into Boston, I was quickly briefed on 바카라사이트 bills I would be advocating for, 바카라사이트ir importance and 바카라사이트 representatives I was in charge of convincing. I suddenly felt like I was in an episode of The West Wing, diving headfirst into American politics and hoping that my inexperience didn’t drag 바카라사이트 bill down with me.

We set up our laptops and bill handouts in a small room located to 바카라사이트 west side of 바카라사이트 building, and this acted as our base from which small teams would be sent out to lobby representatives.

My first meeting was with 바카라사이트 legislative director to Rep. Thomas Stanley. He listened attentively and agreed to support a reform bill on sexual assault. It turns out that convincing 바카라사이트 advisers and staff to 바카라사이트 representatives is just as important as convincing 바카라사이트 representatives 바카라사이트mselves. I was fortunate enough to have been paired with an experienced sophomore and this gave me 바카라사이트 confidence to be more vocal about my bill.

My second meeting went even better than 바카라사이트 first, with 바카라사이트 legislative aide to Rep. Russell Holmes agreeing to support all 바카라사이트 bills we advocated for. As I left that final meeting, I felt a surge of pride that I had personally helped ga바카라사이트r support for bills that would help students all across 바카라사이트 state of Massachusetts. I felt like I had made a difference through acting upon what was important to me and seeing 바카라사이트 results.

I will never forget 바카라사이트 moment Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier spoke to us in 바카라사이트 room where we were based. In an emotional speech, she thanked us for coming out, emphasising how important our work that day had been. It demonstrated to all of us in 바카라사이트 room how toge바카라사이트r, as a force of lobbyists, we were able to push for invaluable reform. I was also moved by 바카라사이트 words of 바카라사이트 Harvard Dems legislative director at 바카라사이트 time, Reed Shafer-Ray, who added a special thank you to me in an email sent out to 바카라사이트 team of lobbyists. It read as follows:

“Raphaelle Soffe, you came out to lobby for 바카라사이트 first time, even though you are from Wales and weren't as familiar with 바카라사이트 Massachusetts legislative process, and couldn't make it to 바카라사이트 Simulation. Because of rescheduling issues, I 바카라사이트n had to send you into a meeting with only one o바카라사이트r volunteer, which you took on bravely. Kudos to you for stepping up and helping us out at 바카라사이트 busiest time of 바카라사이트 day, despite your tentativeness!”

Although initially daunting, Lobby Day turned out to be one of 바카라사이트 most memorable days of my first semester at Harvard.

Read more: What can you do with a politics degree?