I have learned a lot during my summer at State Senator Lou Correa's District Office.


Lindy (Left) with her son, daughter and Senator Correa at the Summer Children's Festival Event

Before, I thought that politics was dirty and that it was all about having money and showing off. However, since working in the legislative office, I have changed my mind about politics. I now have a positive attitude towards the work of the legislative office.

At the office, I have found that the skills I learned at school are easily applied to the work that I am doing. These skills include using the computer, telephoning, communicating with others, typing, and filing. Besides that, having to wake up early and being in the office every day undeniably increases my discipline. The staff push me to do well and they create a positive work environment. The office feels almost like a family.

In the office, I can network and make friends; but other people can hear and see what I am doing, so I have to be polite all the time. Work gives me the opportunity to meet many different people every day and it lets me forget about my own life for a few hours. Being away from my normal life not only helps in listening to the constituents but it also gives me a more logical viewpoint on the issues that I may have to deal with in my own life.

Every day, the phones ring simultaneously with people calling for help. People that seek help from the Senator’s office are not usually aware of how busy we are. They always want to talk directly with the Senator, and the first thing they say is usually something along the lines of, “I voted for him. I want him to help me solve my issues.”

I really enjoy helping others and this is why I think the district office is the right place for me. At the office, there are not many people that can speak Vietnamese, however, almost all the people who come in or call the offices are Vietnamese. I find that I can help them more easily if I speak with them in their native language and since I understand their culture, I can comprehend their ideas and thoughts easily. Over all, I feel that I have a very important role at the office.