Hello!
Hear me out — I know you’re probably getting a flood of applications right now, but I’m hoping you’ll take a second to read through.
I canvassed for Zohran for the past several months and am thrilled with the outcome of this election. Watching this campaign unfold reignited something I thought I’d lost in these past years of unprecedented happenings. My friends, seeing this in me, encouraged me to apply. But I know that enthusiasm alone won’t cut it for the battle ahead. Like so many, I’ve been contending with the current state of work and know that my “on-paper” persona may not stand out, especially knowing that many incredibly qualified people will be just as enthused as I am.
My route here has been unconventional: I spent my early 20s living and working overseas, came back with a broader worldview to study, and have since built three years of hands-on experience in operations. I’ve managed teams, streamlined systems, and learned how to make complex things run smoothly — skills I think could be valuable to the new administration.
Out of pure enthusiasm, and to lend myself a hand, I put together a pros and cons list to tell my story better than a resume ever could:
The only photo evidence of my ongoing support for Zohran I have in my phone.
Pros
A worldview expansive, but steeped in the local
From 19 to 24, I lived and worked in Thailand, Australia, India, and Germany, building community wherever I landed. Those years gave me a deep gratitude for life and a real confidence in connecting with people, understanding the motivations of people and places, and spotting what connects us all. In each place, I gravitated toward egalitarian, community-oriented spaces; from rave collectives in Australia to spiritual communes in Thailand to squat culture in Germany. Every one of them offered an alternative vision of how we can organize and care for one another.
An education in dignity
When I returned to the U.S., I studied anthropology at Columbia University with a focus on that egalitarian urge: how people build systems rooted in fairness. My thesis examined New York’s worker cooperative network, and I also volunteered with a city-funded cooperative business incubator during that time. The experience gave me a front-row seat to how local economies can embody justice, and I’ve continued to stay connected to that community for a documentary work I was lucky enough to get some funding for and have been chiseling away at for some time (which you can see a bit of on my site).
Experience across industries, one through line
To keep myself afloat, I’ve worn a lot of hats — nonprofit ops, film production, tech startups, mom-and-pop consulting — but the through line has always been organization and people. I’ve built a niche in operations, using my coding and tech know-how to streamline systems and bridge communication between creative, technical, and administrative teams. And honestly, I’ve never been more eager to put those skills to use for something as meaningful as what’s taking shape with this administration.
Cons
I don’t come from a traditional public policy background. I’m not a lifer in government or political strategy. But I’ve spent years studying, living, and working in systems, both formal and informal, that reveal what makes communities actually thrive. And I’d like to put that perspective to use here.
I reckon it might be hard to elucidate my cons in an objective way, but I recognize I have a lot to learn. I'm aware that many incredible folks are stepping up to work for this administration, and I don’t take that lightly. What I may lack in direct government or policy experience, I make up for in passion, adaptability, and a willingness to put in the work, and I hope that shines through here.
Put me wherever you need me, pay me whatever you can — I just want to contribute.
Thank you for your time, and for the spark this campaign has brought back into so many of us. I’d be honored to lend my skills, energy, and care to the work ahead.