By Jayden Tran, 2026 CLA Intern
I’ve always chosen to be the person behind the lens of the camera. I love capturing moments, memorializing them as pivotal points of not just my own life, but the lives and experiences of others. For years, I’ve captured candid memories of my friends at concerts, my family eating at a local restaurant, or my peers deep in thought at events.
Stepping into the CAUSE building, I definitely was not prepared for the camera’s focus to be shifted onto me. In the first 30 minutes, Andrea [CAUSE Programs Manager] was taking photos of Matthew, Kaitlan, Ivory, and me after our spaghetti tower won with its height. In our first group photo, where we attempted to create a formation where everyone could be seen, I purposefully hid myself in the back (even though I’m quite short).
This theme of being in focus continued into the rest of the week. I’d brought my camera to Sacramento for our Capitol trip, wanting to take photos of our programming. Instead, I found myself passing off my baby to Andrea and Rachel [CAUSE Programs Intern], who photographed as I listened in on valuable insights from people like Jaspreet Johl, Chief of Staff for Asm. Mark González’s (Shoutout AD- 54!) and the Honorable Mike Fong. Meeting Capitol Office interns and fellows, being introduced during Senate and Assembly sessions, and getting to see the CAUSE Alumni connections in action are all things I might have missed out on had I been too busy behind the lens.
And so, although I’ve been photographing some of the fun parts of CAUSE (see: Matthew’s car battery breaking), I’ve also been learning to live in the moment as well: taking in information as it comes, being an attentive listener, and engaging in conversation. While I used to focus only on what I could see through the viewfinder, I’ve “opened up my senses” and do my best to see everything that’s everywhere all at once.
This was evident in more recent conversations that have emerged post Capitol trip. Meeting with former CLA Alum, the CAUSE Board, and other guest speakers, I’ve found myself listening in more intently instead of simply looking for “the moment.” By taking myself away from the camera and putting myself into the environment, I’ve found that although a picture paints a thousand words, the lessons, emotions, and memories you take from a moment can paint a thousand more words.
CAUSE has given me the opportunity to transform from the photographer to the subject as we continue to explore our work. I have been constantly engaging and mobilizing with constituents and the community at my Host Office. I am the candidate for CAUSE’s Mock Campaign program. I will become more comfortable in environments I’m unfamiliar with.
I recognize that I’ll continue to be that person behind the lens of the camera — that’s just my nature. But, the first two weeks of CAUSE have shown me one thing: sometimes, it’s not too bad to be in the foreground, either.
I still have to work on smiling, though…
