Work Everyday... [Free Write]

Last year I had a class that I was very interested in taking and it wasn't a core class but an upper-division elective for me, the class was “reservation economic development”. This class was very helpful for me to start honing my networking skills with different tribal governments and personnel. I learned a lot and learned more about my networking skills that became very helpful for me this internship, same game but just a lot of different players. One acquaintance I was able to meet and maintain a relationship with is Arizona legislative district 7 senator Carlyle Begay. During our class through invitation we had the opportunity to meet him and do a Q & A. Our class was 75% Native Americans everyone was intrigued to listen to him. Out of the whole class who attended I was the only one asking the difficult questions and not just letting him force feed us the answers. It was apparent we had differences in opinions, but I respected him, I knew I could learn from him even if he wasn't my cup of politics. Back to now, I ran into Senator Begay at a function in Gilbert and he at first did not remember me, but later took interest to where we first met. Our networking time was coming to an end but he did talk with me, I figured that was that. He later would get in contact with my supervisor Leah and request a lunch with her and I. She told me and asked if I knew Senator Begay prior, and I told her how I met him, how I questioned him, and how we talked while networking. The lunch was brief, more of a meeting, he just asked how was school, what I was in school for, and when will I be complete. There was small talk and we touched other subjects, he then told me he wanted to have another lunch when I was finishing up my internship. But before our next lunch he invited to attend a meeting with him at Arizona Senator John McCain's office. I always knew that there would be times that I would meet or be in the presence of politicians that may not be my cup of politics but how I handle it will prove if I was where I want to be with an involvement in politics. I jumped through a lot of hoops to attend this meeting but I made it, I listened, I learned, and I talked when allowed. I guess I kind of seen what was to come later, present day, before it happened. I have my lunch with Senator Begay coming up and I free write more on it...