By Dulasi Tennakoon, 2025 CLA Intern
When I was in my final semester of senior year, I often found myself facing a question that many students wrestle with: What’s next? Then, one day, my professor forwarded an email about the CAUSE CLA internship. Out of curiosity, I clicked through to the website. The first thing I saw were the organization's three goals: vote, participate, lead. As I read about the journeys of past cohorts, something shifted in me and I knew this was something I wanted to be part of.
But as an international student, I carried a quiet hesitation. But the moment I became part of the CLA cohort, that hesitation began to fade. I was welcomed, supported, and challenged in ways that reminded me that my voice mattered. Each day, I felt that sense of belonging, and I saw how deeply my passions connected with the work I was doing.
The internship gave me more than just professional skills. I had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at Congressman Ted Lieu’s office, where I saw up close how the federal government operates. I also learned the intricate realities of running a political campaign, engaged with the unique needs of the AAPI community, and developed the kind of listening skills that allow for deeper, more empathetic connections. But the most enduring part of this journey was the friendships I built. Beyond policy research and campaign strategies, there were conversations, shared stories, and moments of solidarity that I know will last a lifetime.
As someone who has always advocated for marginalized voices, I came into this program with passion, but not always with clarity. How could I channel that passion into meaningful, tangible change? CAUSE gave me that clarity. By networking with community leaders, attending events, conducting in-depth research, and listening to community struggles, I learned how to approach issues strategically, realistically, and with a focus on long-term impact. They will shape the path I take forward. One day, I hope to pursue a career in diplomacy. Growing up in Sri Lanka, I saw firsthand how less-developed countries are often silenced on the global stage. Living in America, I’ve also witnessed how marginalized communities are overlooked in decision-making. These parallels fuel my dream: to stand in those spaces and speak for the voices that too often go unheard. Studying abroad in Japan and now in the United States has further reinforced this truth, no matter where we are in the world, the voices of the powerless matter. They deserve to be acknowledged, and they deserve to be amplified.
CAUSE gave me more than an internship. It gave me the tools, the confidence, and the vision to carry these voices onto every stage I stand on, whether it’s a community gathering or a global summit. It turned my passions into action, my ideas into impact, and my dreams into a path forward.
For that, I will always be grateful. Thank you, CAUSE, for believing in my potential, and for empowering me to step into leadership with both purpose and heart.