October 10, 2024
When I arrived in Virginia, It was still very early in the morning, the sky was a pitch black void of nothingness and the night was still with the exception of a few distant cars on the highway. We were on a trip for AAPI Youth Rising and in four hours, we would be at the Capitol with the rest of the organization.
During this trip, we were given a tour of the Capitol buildings, where we were able to board a private subway the Senators used as their form of commute, we saw the old supreme court, and we toured the artifacts and models of the historic building. This culminated with a lunch with Senator Hirono where we discussed current events.
Being in the Capitol really showed me how far the Asian American Community has come, and the progress we have made since the very first Chinese immigrants moved to California. AAPI Youth Rising is a perfect example of the growing strength in this community, considering the fact that I was part of an organization that represents and advocates for my culture at the center of our nation.
Talking to Senator Hirono about xenophobia and issues relating to today’s events was equally as important. One of the points of discussion that intrigued me was the bills she sponsored in order to promote diversity and equity in her community.
This really resonated with me due to the fact that I had previously thought of legislation as an abstract concept. However, Senator Hirono provided insight into how bills are passed, and through that I found an empowering message from legislation, that there is a face, (or faces) behind all of the laws that help move the needle in the right direction, and Senator Hirono was a perfect example of this.