Last weekend, I went to evening Shabbat services with Mitch, an AAPD IT intern last summer who came back to work for the same federal agency this summer. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the rabbi's commentary on the parsha of the week- Moshe & the 12 spies he sent to the land of Israel. The rabbi mentioned how the Israelites were living in comfort- temperature control, manna readily available & the like. However, this comfort did not lead them to engage in much meaning in their lives, which can be a much more difficult process. We think we can find a middle ground between the two- a comfortable meaning, or a meaningful comfort- but in reality, this is not the case. It is necessary to give up a large amount of comfort to engage in what is meaningful. If I want to get the most out of my summer, I'm going to have to push myself out of my comfort zone in many ways- such as socializing in a professional/networking environment. Hearing what the rabbi had to say renewed my commitment to gaining this new meaning but remembering I won't find it by trying to hold onto a significant amount of comfort.
He used the 12 individuals surveying the land of Israel seeing themselves as "spies", as "outsiders", as an example of the necessity of a paradigm shift. If we see ourselves as foreigners, as outsiders in a given environment, we will likely find what is necessary to adapt to this environment to be a burdensome "chore". Like several of the surveyors, we will view the challenges we face & then ask ourselves "why bother?". But if we see ourselves as insiders in the given environment, we will perhaps find some of these things as not so much a "chore" but a necessary component in order to grow into deeper meaning & understanding.
During my first week, there were certainly challenges I've faced- such as gracefulness in social situations within the office- & I certainly found myself erroneously asking "why bother?". Yet the rabbi's words reinvigorated me to see these personal challenges not only as necessary to help me grow personally & professionally after I graduate from Smith College but challenges I can fully own & take on successfully with a change in thinking. But first I need to stop thinking of myself as an "outsider" simply because I am a summer intern. While the label of "intern" can often be seen as a scarlet letter especially with the reputation of unprofessionalism commonly given to interns in the city, if I see myself as doing my part in allowing Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin's office to run smoothly, I will be able to face my challenges head-on.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Commenters must avoid profanity, harsh language and disparaging remarks on the basis of gender, race, class, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability. All comments to the blog are moderated by AAPD, and can be subject to removal at any time.
Please use the comments section to engage in the ongoing dialogue between our program funders, current and former interns, our colleagues, and the broader disability community, and to respond to intern posts that intrigue you, to share your own stories, or to simply express your gratitude for being allowed into the world of our summer interns.