USF Student is Witness to Change in Nation’s Capital

What do you do in Congressman Kustoff’s office?

I do a lot of work with constituents. I’m getting calls from farmers, people in agriculture. It’s interesting to hear their perspective. I find it really special that I am the direct point of contact for constituents. I also do capitol tours for constituents. Often, we’re able to bond over our love for Tennessee. I’m from Knoxville, in eastern Tennessee.

How has the first month or so been?

I arrived on Jan. 6, the day the election was certified. The political climate here is different than what I’m used to, but being in the midst of the administration change has allowed me to experience how civic engagement plays out beyond textbooks.

This past month has been busy — sometimes I’m answering multiple phones at once — but I really do see it as a privilege. The sheer volume of calls shows how engaged constituents are with what’s happening, and it reminds me why I’m passionate about both our country and the state of Tennessee. People care and want to stay connected with their government.

What are you learning?

It’s really interesting how the USF in DC program is set up. We take classes and do internships. I just love when the coursework and the readings we’re doing all come together, like when something happens in my internship that I learned about in class.

Before this internship, I didn’t have much confidence in myself, but this experience has shown me that it’s better to operate knowing I’m doing my best, even if I don’t have all the answers right away. I’ve learned to trust my ability to complete tasks and to be OK with asking questions when I need guidance. It’s not about having all the answers; it’s about growing through the process and staying open-minded along the way.

Why USF?

When I was applying to colleges, I constantly sought out an environment that would challenge me in diverse ways — socially, geographically, and culturally. Being in San Francisco has pushed me in all of those areas, especially coming from Tennessee and embracing my Taiwanese background. I’ve had to adapt to a new city, engage with people from diverse backgrounds, and navigate different perspectives. I also really value the smaller class sizes and discussion-based classes, where I’m encouraged to think critically and voice my ideas.

These challenges are helping me grow both personally and professionally, especially as I work towards my career in immigration, where I can embrace my culture and make a positive impact on others.

In San Francisco, I can embrace my culture and the work I want to do to help people around me.