Where oh where have the years gone?! I haven’t written on this blog for almost four years (right before I started at Cal State, Northridge). At first I didn’t write because it was such a big change and I was so busy adjusting to my new life, then I didn’t write because as time went on the task of writing an update got more and more intimidating. However, lately I’ve had a jolt of creative inspiration and have loved getting to share that side of me with everyone!
Since graduating college last spring, I’ve taken some time to reflect back. I have grown immensely over the past four years and I wanted to take some time to catalog a little of what I have learned for myself, as well as share it with friends and family.
August 2015 – August 2016
A Year of Change
This year started with me moving into the dorms at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Finally moving out and away from my parents and siblings was a huge change all on its own, plus I had the extra challenge of still dealing with my chronic illness. I joined a sorority that semester and I can honestly say that was the best decision I made in college. I cried the night before recruitment started because I was afraid no one would want me because I didn’t look like sorority girls are “supposed” to look. Turned out I had nothing to worry about! My sorority (and many others on campus) was all about girl power, sisterhood and who you are on the inside. They didn’t care at all what we looked like! To this day my best friends I met in Tri Delta.
At the end of my first semester in at CSUN I got into this amazing program I had learned about at my community college called the Star Fellowship through an organization called Running Start. Every semester this organization picks seven collegiate women from across the country, pays for them to live in D.C., gets them a job working for a Congresswoman and gives you high level political training. This was obviously a once in a lifetime opportunity. But it was still hard to make the decision to go. I had just moved to a new city and settles into a new school. Now they wanted me to move across the country all by myself? I was terrified; and that’s how I knew I HAD to do it.
Washington D.C. was simply amazing. I entered that program a Deaf Studies major (my A.A. is in American Sign Language), but left a Political Science major. I realized throughout that program that even though I believed in equality and thought women could do anything, I was still putting myself in a box. Growing up I was in ASB in high school, Chair of my city’s Youth Advisory Committee and a Student Senator at my community college. I still never thought there was a place for ME in actual politics. In D.C. (and especially through my program) I saw so many incredible women accomplishing things I didn’t even know were possible. I knew I had to become one of those women. Running Start changed my life and I will forever be grateful. I could write an entire post about what I learned in D.C. (and maybe I will someday!), but here are the highlights:
- You can do ANYTHING if you work hard enough. I left D.C. feeling more inspired than I had ever felt in my life. I saw and heard from people who had come from nothing, but took every single opportunity to become great.
- 20-somethings run Congress. All the staffers, all the people writing the bills that become laws, making everyday deals for everyday Americans… All young people (because they are the only ones willing to endure the crappy pay). Those young people are AWESOME!
- Congress, and the government in general, is not as broken as it seems. I worked there in 2016 and there is just so much that goes on that no one cares to write about. I worked for a Democrat, but on each side of our offices were Republicans. We said hi to them everyday and often had lunch together. There are bipartisan deals for the public being made everyday. Republican Members of Congress could often be found in my Congresswoman’s office working on a new bill. There’s a lot that needs to be fixed, but there’s still so much good happening on Capitol Hill.
My first day as a Running Start Star Fellow! 
The joy of realizing this is my new home. 
In front of the office of the Congresswoman I worked for. 
Yes, yes that is MADELEINE ALBRIGHT in front of me you see!! 
Attended the screening of a documentary and panel that my boss at Her Corner was on at The White House!
After my program ended I stayed in D.C. for the summer and worked for a company called Her Corner that helps women entrepreneurs grow their businesses. This was my first time working for an actual company (not a non-profit or the government), and I learned a ton about the industry and myself. I was SO broke that summer though and literally paid to live in a portion of a living room in an apartment. Definitely worth it though!
August 2016 – August 2017
Becoming Busy As Hell!
Almost immediately after coming back from D.C. I moved into an apartment with three other girls from my sorority. Apartment 112 (and those girls living there with me) would turn out to be an important place in my life. The hardest part about the beginning of that semester was that I decided to wean myself off of a lot of the medication I was taking. I felt good and strong after coming back from D.C. so I took myself down to the least possible amount of medication I could still function on.
As soon as I came back I got an officer position in my sorority and became very involved there. I saw all my friends having fun while I was gone, so I was excited to finally get to participate! I got my first Little, Sam (who has since grown her branch of the fam to be HUGE)!
Tri Delta recruitment fall 2016 with Brooke! 
Me with my little, Sam, and the inspiring pillow she gave me!
I also joined the student government as an Elections Committee member that fall. That semester I became close to one of my other best friends from my sorority, Brooke. She was Head Delegate of our university’s Model United Nations team at the time and has always been very politically involved like me. Over the years we have literally been on the other side of the world from each other, but we have always stayed best friends. I should also mention that I also restarted a job for the school’s IT department that I had my first semester there as well.
I also worked for a Congressional campaign during the 2016 election cycle (I had worked part time for Hillary back in DC as well). Both my Congressional candidate and, of course, Hillary lost. Like a lot of America, I was absolutely devastated and then ready to make change. I was so ready to have a Madam President. I had worked so hard and was so surprised. I will never forget the feeling watching the results come in at that campaign office or walking around what was supposed to be a Democratic victory party.
The next semester is where I went a little crazy… Okay a lot. WARNING: DO NOT DO WHAT I AM ABOUT TO DETAIL. Spring 2017 consisted of:
- Another, bigger officer position in my sorority.
- Still working for the school’s IT department.
- I got promoted to Chair of Elections in the student government (a paid position that is time consuming).
- I joined Model United Nations (this is also a HUGE time commitment)
- I did a paid social justice fellow with Jewish World Watch (a non-profit whose goal is to educate about, prevent and end genocide worldwide).
By the end of the semester I was having panic attacks in the parking lot at school. I was a stressed out mess. I most definitely learned my lesson here. I’ve always liked to be busy and involved, but this was not that. This had me feeling like I was failing in every aspect of my life because I was spread too thin and too tired.
I am proud of the fact that I did an excellent job as Chair of Elections and got the highest voter turnout in CSUN’s history! The next administration hired me on as the Chief Policy Advisor to the President. I spent that summer resting from the crazy semester, working for my student government and preparing to be a Recruitment Counselor for Fall 2017 recruitment! I was also chosen as Head Delegate for our Model United Nations program that fall, which was a huge honor. I know it still sounds like a lot, but I promise this next semester was far more manageable!
August 2017 – August 2018
A Year of Accomplishments and Health Problems
So fall 2017 started out with sorority recruitment and I LOVED being a recruitment counselor (the experienced Greek member who helps women going through the recruitment process). My partner Shannon and I had a blast together and I am so glad we became friends through that process! I still love her to pieces!
My recruitment counselor partner, Shannon and I. 
Erica and I exchanging Big and Little gifts!
Once recruitment was over I got my second Little, Erica (whom I adore)! I ended my last term as an officer in my sorority strong with doing a special holiday party where we honored the seniors going alum that semester. (This included my Fave and longtime roommate Sam!)
Model United Nations was also incredibly successful in fall 2017. The first competition of the season I won first place (“Best Delegate”) out of 120+ participants, which made me feel amazing! Next was our international competition in DC (which I LOVED going back to! You better believe I went back to the Capitol Building to say hi to some people!). We held our place as number one team in the world! My partner and I came home with the first place prizes of “Outstanding Delegates” and “Outstanding Position Paper”. My team came home with the first place title of “Outstanding Delegation”. It made all of our late nights worthwhile. We also did a regional competition in Seattle that semester, where we also won “Outstanding Delegation”. I got mentioned as Head Delegate in my university’s 60th Anniversary Magazine for our team’s accomplishments.
I did a lot of good work as Chief Policy Advisor to the President as well. Unfortunately, I had some serious health issues at the end of that semester. I went to the ER four times and was eventually diagnosed with pneumonia and bronchitis, which was made infinitely worse because of my pre-existing health issues. As the next semester was my final one in college and my health was so poor, I didn’t continue in student government in the spring.
In the spring all I was doing was school and my last semester in my sorority (not as an officer). This was the first time in my entire college career not working while going to school, but I was so sick, I couldn’t have worked anyway. One of the many problems that semester was gallstones created from medication and other health issues. I spent my spring break getting my gallbladder surgically removed. Fun.
In my sorority I had my last recruitment, my last retreat, my last formal, etc. It was sad, but also felt right. I also truly enjoyed the senior celebrations and my sister (who everyone already knew) became even more famous in my sorority for her hilarious speech at the family ceremony.
My last retreat was a blast! 
So glad I had this last opportunity to bond with sisters! 
My date to my last formal! 
Made Sam my “Crescent” and gave her this paddle during the senior ceremony. 
Roomies from the start, friends til the end! 
Erica made me this beautiful alum paddle!
The one extra thing I did participate in, was planning the March for Our Lives Nation Walkout Day at CSUN. Like many, I was inspired by the survivors of the Parkland Shooting in Florida and decided to take action. A couple of neighboring high schools ended up coming out to join our walkout and the university’s administration came out to show support as well. In the end 200+ people showed up and it was amazing and powerful! So many different people and organizations on campus jumped in to help plan and organize.
The incredible students who helped me plan the rally! 
Change MUST happen now! 
University VPs came out to support! 
That May I graduated with a degree in Political Science and a focus in Public Policy. I graduate in the top 3 percent of my class and as a member of four honor societies. I was also chosen as the student speaker for my graduation ceremony and spoke to over 10,000 people that morning. I worked my ass off in college and I couldn’t be happier to be done! LOL
Love my sash so much! 
Made my cap the night before graduation! 
Love my siblings more than anything 
At my honors ceremony with sisters! 
Giving my speech at graduation to over 10,000 people!
That summer was amazing for a lot of reasons, but the highlight was definitely going on a family trip to Hawaii for the first time! It was so gorgeous, relaxing and we all got to be together.
Since August 2018
What is Adulting?
After graduation, I moved home. My sister actually moved into my old apartment where two of my original roommates still live (told ya 112 would be important ;P). I, of course, worked on the 2018 election cycle in LA again. I helped with Christy Smith’s Assembly campaign AND SHE WON!! It had been a red district for so long and it was such a close race, so it was super exciting!
While my main focus has been my health, I also began working for an amazing social impact company called Mighty Peace Coffee! We are helping to create better communities and economic stimulation in Congo through buying and selling truly Fair Trade coffee beans. It’s a mission I believe in and an incredibly team to work with. I’m also working at a local restaurant part time in my hometown.
Lately I have really struggled with the fact that I’m not out there doing amazing things like I see my peers doing. I wish my health didn’t hold me back in the way it always seems to do. But if there’s one thing I know, it’s how to work through a health setback!
I know this post was sooooo long, so major props if you’ve made it to this point! Like I said, this post was as much for me as it was for anyone else, so I’m not that concerned with length here. HOWEVER, I am planning on doing a complete site redesign in the next few weeks and posting more regularly! So please sign up for alerts if you’d like to get notified next time I post.
Wishing you a wonderful day and extra spoons!
Jaelin
jaelinpalmer.wordpress.com 