Eleven BYU-Hawaii students from places such as Australia, American Samoa, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, and the U.S. went to Washington D.C., from May 16 to 23. The students, alongside Political Science professors Troy Smith and Jennifer Kajiyama, spent seven busy days in D.C. networking with government and non-government officials and learning about national politics from an inside perspective.
The trip planned by Kajiyama and Smith allowed for students to interface with government at all levels. Students met former BYU-Hawaii alumnus Representative Jeff Flake, Senator Daniel K. Akaka, and Senator Mike Lee. Students also met with the Chief Nominations Counsel and Investigations Counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, member of the Senator John Barrasso's staff, representatives for the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Chamber of Commerce, lobbyists, think-tanks, public relations firms, international non-profit attorneys and paralegals from some of the biggest law firms in the United States.
The purpose of the trip, according to Smith, was "to help students learn about government in person. There are some things you can't learn from a textbook. While in D.C., the students learned about the expectations and professionalism that is required [in the working world.]" The officials they met in D.C. emphasized that students needed to "develop [their] writing skills in college. As professors we can tell students that all the time but there is something about being with employers that helps them to know it's necessary for success. They learned about internships and career opportunities, developed a network of people they can contact for mentoring and for grad school." The students were invited to share with their peers what they learned upon returning to BYU–Hawaii.
For Genevieve Samia, a senior in political science from American Samoa, it was a once in a lifetime experience. Of her overall experience in D.C., Samia said it was a rewarding experience. "We met inspiring people who helped us to [think] outside of the box. They were kind to let us know that we could contact them for help. We saw how hard they work and learned how motivated they were," said Samia.
She encouraged students to look for opportunities to go out and get involved with local politics. She thanked BYU–Hawaii for funding "this inspiring opportunity that has impacted me and my future success." Samia received an internship this summer with Michael Kruse, Chief Justice of the high court in American Samoa.
When he went with the political science department to Washington D.C., political science major and senior, Isaac Opehema felt like it was a dream come true. Because of his plans to get involved in government in his home country of Papua New Guinea, Opehema felt "going to Washington was a stepping-stone so I can achieve my dreams." He plans on running for governor and dreams of one day becoming Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.
Opehema emphasized the fact that the D.C. trip changed his life: "You always have a dream to go somewhere. I actually went there. I couldn't believe it. I felt the stone with my hand. I could feel the power in my hands. I felt happy and free, like my feet were not even touching the ground. By visiting D.C., it changed how I saw the world. The people I met changed the world. I'm the same physically, but I am a new man [because of] the way I think." Isaac has secured an internship this summer with At Large Representative Faleomavaega of American Samoa.
Noelani Thompson, a junior in political science from Alaska, noticed a difference between island culture and that of Washington D.C. "D.C. has very different culture from island culture. Time seems more precious there." One of the highlights of Thompson's trip was meeting Senator Akaka. She said, "Meeting Senator Akaka changed how I saw his views because I saw that he actually cared for his people. We also talked to the Heritage Foundation and Sierra Club. We met with them and found out why they support who they do."
Kajiyama, a graduate of BYU–Hawaii, had two purposes for going to Washington D.C. Not only did she help plan the trip to D.C., she also had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be sworn-in to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court. As a licensed attorney, Kajiyama, and her twin sister, Nicole Kajiyama Holmes were selected by BYU Law School, and met the necessary qualifications of the U.S. Supreme Court to be one of the few attorneys in the U.S. with this distinction. “It is such a unique privilege. I never thought that I would stand on the floor of the Supreme Court in front of the justices I have studied and admired.” In particular Kajiyama noted that she was “extremely humbled” to be considered in the words of Chief Justice John Roberts, a “colleague of the Court.” “To stand where the great attorneys of our century have stood and to have the potential to come before the Court is something I could have never dreamed of when I was a BYU-Hawaii student.”
The honor was made even more memorable because Kajiyama and her sister were able to meet Chief John Roberts, Associate Justice Samuel Alito and Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Kajiyama commented: "The Justices were so honest and down-to-earth. Justice Ginsburg said that her most important accomplishment in life were her two children. When asked how she maintained a balance in her life, she said she could only have done it because of her supportive spouse."