Week 3 was a roller coaster ride as it was my first experience as an Intern while Congress is in session. While my work is intellectually stimulating and relevant, I will share an experience I had yesterday that I thought was somewhat profound. My mom is in town for the week so I thought I'd dutifully take her to see all of the monuments on her first day, but I found my second-time around visiting the monuments even more eye-opening than the first. I took her to see the FDR Memorial where my favorite statue is of FDR in a wheelchair. Directly behind the statue is a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt that reads as follows, "Franklin's illness... gave him strength and courage he had not had before. He had to think out the fundamentals of living and learn the greatest of all lessons- infinite patience and never-ending persistence." This quote truly resonated with me as I never viewed my disability as a handicap or disadvantage, but as a blessing. Given the obstacles I have overcome in my past and my successes thus far, I feel like there is nothing I can't do. I wouldn't change that for the world.
Jimmy Curran
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Another week!
Hey everyone!
So I just finished my second week at HQ, and I'm still loving it. This week was exhausting, but also pretty exciting. I went to two briefings on health care reform (one on the general state of health care and one on HC from a disability perspective), and I think I'm starting to understand what's happening with it. On the other hand, the more I learn about health care, the more I realize that it's extremely complicated. Either way, it's going to mean big things for people with disabilities. I am also working on a project that involves incorporating disability into a program called LifeSmarts, which is a program to promote consumer awareness and knowledge in teenagers. It might seem trivial, but disability is so often neglected as a subject that I think it's really important to get in wherever we can. I also got published this week! Check out JFA if you're interested, but I wrote two articles last week (one on market regulation for medical devices and one about the proposed Hearing Aid Tax Credit Assistance Act), and now they're up on the blog.
After work, I've mostly just been hanging around my neighborhood and getting to know my roommates. I also think I mentioned I have some family and friends around - this weekend I met my cousin for breakfast and hung out with my sister quite a bit. Last night we went to a barbecue at her friend's house in Maryland, and I saw someone I knew from school. It was a lot of fun! Also, I have to mention that people were going CRAZY yesterday in Dupont Circle when the US tied England in the World Cup. They were acting like we had won the whole Cup, but it was fun to be around all the excitement. More next week!
So I just finished my second week at HQ, and I'm still loving it. This week was exhausting, but also pretty exciting. I went to two briefings on health care reform (one on the general state of health care and one on HC from a disability perspective), and I think I'm starting to understand what's happening with it. On the other hand, the more I learn about health care, the more I realize that it's extremely complicated. Either way, it's going to mean big things for people with disabilities. I am also working on a project that involves incorporating disability into a program called LifeSmarts, which is a program to promote consumer awareness and knowledge in teenagers. It might seem trivial, but disability is so often neglected as a subject that I think it's really important to get in wherever we can. I also got published this week! Check out JFA if you're interested, but I wrote two articles last week (one on market regulation for medical devices and one about the proposed Hearing Aid Tax Credit Assistance Act), and now they're up on the blog.
After work, I've mostly just been hanging around my neighborhood and getting to know my roommates. I also think I mentioned I have some family and friends around - this weekend I met my cousin for breakfast and hung out with my sister quite a bit. Last night we went to a barbecue at her friend's house in Maryland, and I saw someone I knew from school. It was a lot of fun! Also, I have to mention that people were going CRAZY yesterday in Dupont Circle when the US tied England in the World Cup. They were acting like we had won the whole Cup, but it was fun to be around all the excitement. More next week!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Internship Blog for Week Three
Wow! Now it is the second week of June already and I haven't started working my internship because of the delay in getting my security clearances, but I did not lose my faith and I continue to think positive, but it was tough time for me because I like keeping busy. My family and friends helped me to think positive and remind me to keep my faith strong and that was helpful to make me feel better less stress.
I went shopping at Barnes & Noble and bought a book for reading while I have free time and I went also to a Deaf performance plus I went to Smithsonian Museum for demonstrations and went with friends from Gallaudet University for touring of the city. Finally, the DHS contacted me with good news that I will start working next week on Monday June 14th, between 8:30 to 9:30 am; I think I will show up there at 8:30 to "play it safe".
I am really very excited to start working at my internship but more excited that I am at DHS! I am looking forward to doing this internship and I thank God for my chance to learn and grab a hands on experience here. Honest, I feel "honor" to receive this chance because not everyone can pass security clearance because it is so tough because of background check, and so many details.
I will have more details next week on my blog; I’m sure I will have lots more to report and will be very positive.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Visit to the Smithsonian
I had fun this week doing what almost all tourists who come to D.C. do, checking out the monuments. I went to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. It was a lot of fun. When I got tired of walking around the different exhibits I sat and watched all of the informational videos. Of all the videos I watched, the ones that I really liked were the ones about underwater exploration. Those videos made me have an urge to go scuba diving, and it made me become more motivated to learn scuba diving to go deep under water.
I also really like the exhibit on sand because I could relate it to the different types of sands and beaches of where I am from, Puerto Rico. This exhibit also made me think about what is going on in the Gulf of Mexico. I think it is really tragic that after all the time that has gone by since the accident happened, the oil continues to flow and spill all over the Gulf. When I watched the coverage of the oily birds and the now oil-filled wetlands, I wonder how can we be of any help to stop the damage that continues happening to the Gulf coast. I try not to think about it too much.
The other exhibit that really caught my eye was the crystal and rock exhibit. As a child I had a big rock collection, but nothing like the Smithsonian. It was then, when I was in the rock exhibit, that I really regretted not bringing my camera. While at the rock collection I saw a fellow AAPD intern who was nice enough to give me the head ups that Justice Sotomayor was going to be speaking this week on Capitol Hill. All in all, the rocks were the last exhibit I saw in the Smithsonian but I know I have to go back.
I also really like the exhibit on sand because I could relate it to the different types of sands and beaches of where I am from, Puerto Rico. This exhibit also made me think about what is going on in the Gulf of Mexico. I think it is really tragic that after all the time that has gone by since the accident happened, the oil continues to flow and spill all over the Gulf. When I watched the coverage of the oily birds and the now oil-filled wetlands, I wonder how can we be of any help to stop the damage that continues happening to the Gulf coast. I try not to think about it too much.
The other exhibit that really caught my eye was the crystal and rock exhibit. As a child I had a big rock collection, but nothing like the Smithsonian. It was then, when I was in the rock exhibit, that I really regretted not bringing my camera. While at the rock collection I saw a fellow AAPD intern who was nice enough to give me the head ups that Justice Sotomayor was going to be speaking this week on Capitol Hill. All in all, the rocks were the last exhibit I saw in the Smithsonian but I know I have to go back.
Work and the nightlife
This week I had the opportunity to attend the farmers market at the USDA and got the chance to meet with Rayne Pegg, which was great experience. The farmers market was a great place to go to purchase organic fruits, vegetables, and even fresh organic ice cream. The Washington DC nightlife is great there is always something to do take tonight for instance there was jazz festival taking place with great live music. This past weekend went to Dupont Circle and walked around with my roommate Justin and some my friends found a salsa club which was really fun did a little salsa dancing which I hadn’t done in a while so it was definitely a lot of fun and got to listen some more live music.
Work is great I have been doing research on some programs for the access board, which is cool because I didn’t really think that they would want an interns opinion on what kind software they should get. I have the office all to myself next IT wise because my supervisors have to go to a conference so it is going to make for an interesting week. I don’t foresee any problems that I can’t handle on my so it just a lot of responsibility but I’m up to the challenge so I’ll definitely let you know how it went in next weeks blog.
Work is great I have been doing research on some programs for the access board, which is cool because I didn’t really think that they would want an interns opinion on what kind software they should get. I have the office all to myself next IT wise because my supervisors have to go to a conference so it is going to make for an interesting week. I don’t foresee any problems that I can’t handle on my so it just a lot of responsibility but I’m up to the challenge so I’ll definitely let you know how it went in next weeks blog.
VSA Congressional Reception
This week I had the opportunity to attend the VSA Arts Congressional Reception with my mentor Yoshiko Dart. Shout out to Andy Imparato who was also there. VSA is basically an international, cross-disability organization focusing on disability and arts, working to ensure people with disabilities have access to the art world either through presenting their own works or participating in inclusive art education programs. The program was founded by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith in 1974 and is affiliated with The Kennedy Center.
The event was pretty neat as it featured a young artist from every state that participated in the CVS Caremark competition to have their artwork displayed at the reception- other pieces can be seen on exhibit at Union Station. There were also a variety of VSA artists in attendance who are showcased in the International VSA Festival. The festival features a wide variety of art forms, from music to performance to readings. I enjoyed the reception because of its fusion of the art/ creative world and the advocacy/ political world. This is not to say the two are mutually exclusive, but the two circles do not often intersect despite having a broadly similar goal of promoting equality for the disability community. When Ambassador Kennedy Smith spoke she mentioned the importance of making art accessible to the disability community, emphasizing its importance as a medium of self-expression. Self-expression is vital to the promotion of the disability community's rights. Too many times we are the subjects of photos, of literature, of news stories without our true voice being heard. Art, as sponsored through this organization, has the power to represent the reality of the disability community, providing another avenue for advocacy. One of my professional goals for the summer was to learn about the different ways I can be a disability rights advocate so this reception opened my eyes to a new avenue of involvement. The reception also included speeches by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Patrick Kennedy, and Senator Harkin to name a few, discussing the importance of Healthcare Reform, VSA arts, and this year’s ADA anniversary.
The event was pretty neat as it featured a young artist from every state that participated in the CVS Caremark competition to have their artwork displayed at the reception- other pieces can be seen on exhibit at Union Station. There were also a variety of VSA artists in attendance who are showcased in the International VSA Festival. The festival features a wide variety of art forms, from music to performance to readings. I enjoyed the reception because of its fusion of the art/ creative world and the advocacy/ political world. This is not to say the two are mutually exclusive, but the two circles do not often intersect despite having a broadly similar goal of promoting equality for the disability community. When Ambassador Kennedy Smith spoke she mentioned the importance of making art accessible to the disability community, emphasizing its importance as a medium of self-expression. Self-expression is vital to the promotion of the disability community's rights. Too many times we are the subjects of photos, of literature, of news stories without our true voice being heard. Art, as sponsored through this organization, has the power to represent the reality of the disability community, providing another avenue for advocacy. One of my professional goals for the summer was to learn about the different ways I can be a disability rights advocate so this reception opened my eyes to a new avenue of involvement. The reception also included speeches by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Patrick Kennedy, and Senator Harkin to name a few, discussing the importance of Healthcare Reform, VSA arts, and this year’s ADA anniversary.
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