By Paolo Estrella, 2025 CLA Intern
Rising in the elevator to the eighth floor of 360 E 2nd Street, my mind was racing with doubt. What if I didn’t fit in? Was my hair professional enough? Would I be the black sheep in a room full of people who already knew each other? Each ding of the elevator only heightened my nerves as I prepared to step into something entirely new.
But the moment I walked through the doors, my fears began to dissolve. It quickly became clear that while getting into the building required a competitive and rigorous application process, the community inside was warm, welcoming, and supportive. It wasn’t just a place of high standards, it was a space where people were excited to grow together.
Diving into the first 5 days at the central office of my new internship, I found myself in awe a majority of the time. Whether it was discovering the accomplishments of my fellow cohort members, listening to yet another accomplished speaker, or realizing how complex each level of government really was, I found myself eager to take it all in. Of these moments, one that resonated with me occurred during a conversation centered around data disaggregation. The precise play between nurturing an air of AANHPI solidarity while also recognizing the diverse backgrounds of community members is vital to the AANHPI community yet still holds no answer.
Even outside of official hours, there was no shortage of community growth moments. I truly believe I spent a majority of my week hour by hour interacting with other cohort members which resulted in jokes about possible cohort withdrawal symptoms. Bouncing from fear of isolation to the joy of finding like minded people dedicated to protecting our shared community was heartwarming and has reinvigorated my desire to help others.
The last aspect which I felt was most notable was my placement at the office of Assemblymember Jessica Caloza. Though I was metaphorically thrown in the deep end when it concerned constituent calls and research, I was able to put my best foot forward.
Looking back on my first week, I’m filled with gratitude for the chance to learn about my community, connect with others, and work under Assemblymember Caloza. What began initially as an intimidating opportunity turned into a grounding experience that reminded me why I chose this path in the first place. Surrounded by driven, thoughtful individuals and immersed in meaningful work, I no longer feel like the outsider I feared I’d be.
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.
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.