My favorite time of day is the blurred edge between sunset and civil twilight. That handful of minutes where the sun is still just barely peeking over the horizon, bleeding out in shades of pink and orange, and the edges of the sky are stained a deep indigo-violet, decorated with a smattering of stars. It was during my favorite time of day that we sat outside the Blossom Market Hall in San Gabriel.
While I sat there listening to each of the speeches – watching as the sinking sun traced the fronds of the palm trees in bright, glittering gold – I couldn’t help but think that it was very fitting that we made this transition to becoming CLA Alumni at sunset. Sunset is a time of day typically associated with endings and our CLA Graduation was certainly the closing of a chapter, the last few waning hours of what had been an absolutely wonderful summer experience. But, to me at least, sunsets also represent the opportunity for new beginnings. Because when something ends, something new begins. The closing of one door means the opening of another. The end of one day means a new one is soon to follow.
And that’s what the CLA graduation ceremony meant to me too.
The whole evening was tinged with something bittersweet. In all of my interactions with my CLA cohort, I couldn’t help but think to myself that this might be the last time all 14 of us would be together like this. Because I knew that after the ceremony concluded, nothing would ever be the same again. Some of us would be off flying across the world. Some of us would be going back to school. And some of us would be going home to spend the rest of the summer in idleness after so many days of energy and activity and experience. And yet, there was also this undercurrent of happiness and joy and excitement in the air that night. Because even though this seemed to be the end of an era, all of us could recognize that it was the beginning of something new. A new era of possibilities, opportunities, and chances to learn.
I saw everyone talking with someone after the ceremony. Whether they were an attorney, a nonprofit leader, an elected official, or one of our previous guest speakers, a CLA intern was there chatting them up, making conversation, getting to know more about them and their work. And in those interactions, I could see the new beginnings, the open doors, the miniature dawns of new days soon to come.
I myself engaged in many of those interactions. At the tables, at the food vendors, inside Blossom Market Hall, outside by the stage, I talked to so many people. I talked to people I’d reached out to independently, people I’d seen maybe once or twice, and even people I’d never met before in my life. Each conversation I had was a new connection I made and it was so incredible to me that I could find similarities and points of interest to discuss even with someone entirely new to me. I’ll admit, it was intimidating at first to approach anyone – especially those gathered in tight little circles – but once I’d done it a few times, it got much easier. And before I knew it, hours had passed by.
Through those interactions (and the several reassurances from the CAUSE staff and my fellow CLA interns), I came to realize that this really wasn’t the end. It was only the beginning. I am so excited to see where my CAUSE experiences and connections will take me in the coming years. I hope that in the future my path will once again converge with those of the people I’ve met this summer. I know, deep in my heart, that all of us will be together again someday.
Because, as Steve often said: This isn’t the end. It’s only the beginning.
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not reflect the views or positions of CAUSE or the CAUSE network.
Written by Meghna Nair, Leadership Academy 2023 Intern.
The CAUSE Leadership Academy (CLA) for students is a nine-week, paid, internship program that prepares college undergraduates to lead and advocate for the Asian Pacific Islander community on their campuses and beyond.