A LOT has happened since I last posted. It was back in March, when I was still looking forward to finishing my MPH and figuring out my next steps. Since then I have not only graduated, but I have taken the next step! I am currently writing from Charleston, South Carolina, on the beautiful back porch of the supporter housing that was arranged for me. I will be starting my first day of work tomorrow as an Organizer for the Kamala Harris campaign #ForThePeople! And yes, it all stems back to that fateful meeting in February at a hotel in Des Moines, Iowa.
I accepted the offer on my very last day of work with the Massachusetts Public Health Association on June 7, also my last day in Boston. I am completely aware of the things that I am going to miss about Boston – the ease of life in a (very walkable) city, the structure of being part of a university, the thousands of young people that call the city home, and of course, the Esplanade. I have yet to find a running experience as nice as the Charles River Esplanade.
I’m excited to begin this next chapter. I am extremely privileged to be able to uproot my life and join a presidential campaign, with the consistent support of my family and friends. Literally, my mom and I drove 17.5 hours to get to Charleston. I have felt an itch to just dedicate myself to changing what’s happening in the world right now, and didn’t really know what that would look like. I’m hoping that investing my time in a campaign that I strongly believe in will be the right choice, and hoping that gaining experience as an Organizer will help clarify my future career goals.
The excitement also stems from being in a new place. It’s my first time in Charleston, and I can truthfully say I never anticipated moving to a Southern state. The city itself is charming and rich with history, and there is a lot for me to explore in the limited time that I will call this place home!
I have a lot to learn in the coming months. South Carolina votes for their presidential primary candidate on February 29, 2020, and there is plenty of work that I will need to do before then. I have never been faced with so many unknowns, and am really looking forward to a blog post where I can provide some specifics about the life of an Organizer. In the meantime, I encourage you to keep up with Senator Kamala Harris (like her awesome performance in the recent debate) and follow along with the entire campaign, since it really is #ForThePeople 🙂
Elizabeth, exploring 