This event appealed to me because of the opportunities it provided. Pierina was introduced to me during a school meeting regarding civics days. They displayed a campaign flier of her about a fellowship she was organizing. I found it intriguing, so I applied. I had the chance to get to know her and connect with her fight during the fellowship, so I continued as a volunteer after the fellowship ended. They called me a few weeks after I volunteered, asking if I wanted to work as a paid volunteer. I was aback by the proposal because of how poor my communication skills were, especially considering the nature of the work. I was astounded by her faith in me. It was the most incredible experience I've ever experienced.
During the time I worked with her, my communication and social skills improved a lot. I am so grateful for the opportunity and the faith they put in me.
What I wish was different
My availability is something I wish had been different. I had school, and balancing employment and school was challenging. During the campaign, I was unable to attend as many events as I would have liked.
Advice
The one piece of advice I would share in light of this experience is to never say "no" to yourself. Because I had such poor self-esteem and was unaware of my great talent, I would never offer or ask them to recruit me as a paid volunteer. I'll advise them to speak up because if they don't, no one will know about their challenges or needs. What I learned from this experience is that the universe conspires to meet your needs. So, don't be frightened to open up.
