So in a few days I'll be leaving Washington, D.C. and heading back to Los Angeles, CA to return to my new life and close the chapter, at least temporarily to my DC experience. Obviously I am so humbled to have had the opportunity to intern this fall with the Congressional Black Caucus and to work in the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division's Voting Section. Honestly, though, coming to the end of this experience is bittersweet. This is such a profound time in my life, in the life of our country. So much is going on right now in the world and everyday I am trying to take it in a little more. I am saddened by what is going on right now, especially in Illinois with the scandal that has engulfed Governor Blagojevich. Nevertheless, the sadness that I feel cannot replace the happiness that I have inside for having completed this accomplishment successfully. I am going to definitely miss so much about Washington, the people that I've met, the friendships rekindled, the UCDC center and not having hot water for like 3 days! This was a phenomenal experience, a bit longer than I thought it would be, but nevertheless I once in a lifetime opportunity. I am excited and a bit anxious for what lies ahead as I close this chapter in my life and began another.
I cannot believe that I am about to end the first semester of final year at UC Merced. The time has definitely went by incredibly too fast. I will 22 in a few months and everything is happening so fast. So far I've applied to several Graduate Schools: UCLA, Cal State Long Beach, Claremont, and I'm still working on Cal Poly San Luis Obisbo, Cal State Sacramento, San Francisco State, and I am still deciding, albeit with 5 days and counting, whether or not I should throw my hat to UC Berkeley. Mostly I'm applying to Public Administration and Public Policy Programs with a few Ethnic/Cultural/African-American Studies programs thrown in there as well. It's amazing how much I've come as a scholar in my career. After doing a lot of reflection, research and deep thought I decided that right now law school was not the right thing for me and that I would rather gain more experience and research skills before I embarked on that journey. I definitely think I am making the right decision. I am also applying to the Cal Assembly/Senate Fellows programs so hopefully everything works out.
This spring I am going to be working on my Senior Thesis, hopefully on the history of voting/civil rights barriers for African-Americans and other minorities, taking one last history class and a sociology class as well. I'm also excited because I was offered a legislative internship position in Modesto this spring as well, and a $1000 scholarship to go with it and so this spring is looking very exciting and if all goes according to plan I will finish with honors and then go abroad to South Africa or participate in the UC Sacramento Internship Program. I'm also in the running to be an RA for the Summer Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Internship Program. There's a lot going on in my life right now and I am full speed ahead to what will hopefully be a successful career in public service. Lately I've been finding myself feeling like there is more that I could or should be doing.
During my internship I had to opportunity to work with Horton's Kids, non-profit here in DC that serves disadvantaged youth in the Anacostia neighborhood. It was a humbling experience, although short-lived and I really felt like I was making a positive difference. It really instilled in me a desire to work with children and Jonathan said that I could use my political and legal skills to instill in them a desire to pursue careers in public service and law. That is something I could see myself becoming really passionate about. I know Michelle Obama worked on a project similar to that in Chicago. There are so many opportunities out there that I would like to take advantage of. Right now my number one priority is trying to make my resume as beautiful and impressive as possible.
Despite these difficult economic times, I am looking to our President-elect and his beautiful family and I have hope. I am hopeful that my future will be bright and that I will use all of the skills and talents that I've been blessed with to help make this world a little better than it was. I'm also finding myself feeling more and more paternal with each passing day. Although I'm three months shy of 22 I can already envision my life as a father, a mentor, and a teacher. It's something about the sparkle in a child's eye that makes my heart melt until the day that I will have one to call my own. Nevertheless I know that I am in no financial or mental state to be thinking about children but I suppose a guy can dream. One day hopefully. One day soon. As for now I am going to happily close this chapter in my life entitled "My Introduction to Washington, D.C. and close it for the next chapter, "Leaving UC Merced." What an exciting and challenging next few years I will have before me. More Internships, Graduate School, Law School, Fellowships, Externships, Clerkships, and Life in the Real World. Here's to hoping that the next four years will be as amazing and thrilling as the last four.
Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year!
Always,
Rodney K. Nickens Jr.
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