It is the beginning of Summer 2009 and as summer and winter breaks are often the best times for me to post my thoughts to this blog I have a few thoughts that I would like to share. A lot has been going on in my life and I have been keeping a lot on my chest and as is often said by those who are much wiser than I am, it is not healthy to keep to much on your chest. It is my sincerest hope that in my sharing the events and experiences going on in my life through this blog I can not only inform others but also touch and inspire others, as well. It's been over a month since I last blogged and over the course of the last month and a half I have graduated from college, met the First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, traveled from the Bay Area to Southern California, witnessed the California Supreme Court systematically strip civil rights away from the queer community, and grown much closer to my family and friends. It has been such an amazing month and half and I hope that it foreshadows what is to come for me this summer as well as in the fall.
My college graduation has been one of the greatest milestones of my life. I never would have dreamed that as I marched along with my graduating class I would be addressed by the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, who also happens to be the first African-American First Lady. I could never have dreamed that as a result of serving on the Dear Michelle Committee, the group of students who organized the campaign to recruit the First Lady, that I would have the opportunity to hug and shake the hand of the First Lady and to take a picture with her as well. I could never have dreamed that my college graduation from the University of California, Merced would be such a beautiful day with my family and friends full of so many amazing memories. Even three weeks later I am still in awe at the beauty of the day. I am eternally grateful to the University of California-Merced for providing me with countless memories, experiences, and opportunities for growth. I close this chapter in my life with sadness and happiness. It is truly one of the most bittersweet times for me as I must say goodbye to the friendships, relationships, and life that I have come to know for the past 4 years. I know that many of my friends will keep in touch but I also know that it will never be the same. It will never be like it was in college.
After graduation I spent 2 weeks in the San Francisco Bay Area with my Aunt and Uncle. It was a fun two weeks hanging out with my family up north, going out with my cousin, working out and jogging with my Aunt, and chatting with my Uncle, who is never one without many words. However, as I was preparing to leave three important events occurred. President Obama appointed Sonia Sotomayor as the first Latina Supreme Court Justice, the California Supreme Court voted 6-1 to uphold Proposition 8 in California, which declared same-sex marriage unconstitutional, and lastly President Obama declared June as Gay Pride Month and published an official proclamation along with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Each of these events was historic and impacted me personally.
After I left the Bay Area, I stopped in Merced for a bit and then headed down to Southern California where I met Jonathan and Alan at UCLA and we went running in the Hollywood Hills. I absolutely am in love with UCLA and Southern California in general. Beautiful weather, beautiful people. beautiful beaches. Everything is just beautiful. I spent the last week accompanying Jonathan to graduate classes in education, working out at the UCLA gym, and hanging out with my SoCal friends at UCLA and UCI. A few of my friends from UCM even came down for my friend Raj's 22nd birthday and to hang out in Southern California and Las Vegas.
This is my last week in Southern California before I begin my summer internship in Sacramento with the UC Center there. Hopefully I will be working in the District Attorney's Office or in the Legislative Office of a member of the State Assembly or State Senate. It should be an interesting experience as I have never lived and worked in Sacramento however, I am a little concerned as to how I will afford to intern in Sacramento for the summer. This is the first summer that I have not worked full-time and it will definitely be a financial strain, so much so that I may have to pick up a part-time job to make ends meet. Nevertheless, I am excited about spending the next 3 months of my life interning, learning, and meeting new people. I know that this summer is going to be a great one. However, I hope it goes by fast because I am so ready to begin grad school at UCLA in the fall, move into my new LA apt. with Jonathan and start my new life in Southern California.
There is so much going on in the world and I am anxious to begin to learn how I fit into this giant puzzle called life. I am ready to make my mark in this world however I am supposed to do so. I hope that I am ready for what lies ahead. I know that I am not done yet and there is still much growth that I must endure. As Michelle Obama said in her Commencement speech I know that there will be dark times that lie ahead and I that I am certain to face countless obstacles as a continue to progress into my purpose and fulfill my destiny. I am embracing the challenge and the growth that will come along with it and in so doing, hopefully I will continue to become a better, more whole, person.
I am well on my way to law school, becoming the top lawyer that I was designed to become, and becoming the influential political leader, author, teacher, and mentor that I was born to be. And despite the racist and insulting scoff by a certain white man at my very presence at Huntington Beach as an African-American graduate student at UCLA, I am confident and proud to be where I am today and no one and nothing can take that away from me or stop me from achieving my goals. This should be a very interesting summer.
Sincerely,
RKNJ
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Rodney K. Nickens Jr.
UCLA Graduate Student '11
M.A. Afro-American Studies
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