As I say goodbye to high school, I’m still wrapping my head around how surreal this journey has been. While most students were choosing electives or figuring out what clubs to join, I was learning how power works—firsthand. I didn’t just witness politics in action; I lived it. And it changed me.
One opportunity appeared when I was staffing Supervisor Matt Dorsey. Across the room stood Mayor London Breed—someone I deeply admired. She, too, once walked the halls of Galileo High School, overcoming her own obstacles to lead San Francisco.
I knew I had one shot.
With a mix of nerves and determination, I walked up and said, “You walked the same halls I walk, and fought tooth and nail to be here. I want to be like you.”
To my surprise, she saw something in me. She offered to mentor me on the spot. Even more incredibly, she already knew who I was—from my work as the face of the Eid holiday implementation in SFUSD, a campaign that made headlines on Al Jazeera, the San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Standard, and a segment on CBS News.
Interning under Mayor Breed wasn’t about getting coffee. It was about learning how to move with intention, how to speak up even as the youngest voice at the table, and how to play the game of life long before most people my age even learn the rules. At the Office of Protocol, I helped plan international events and coordinated with Consul Generals from Ireland to China. I even organized the Fourth of July celebration for San Francisco’s diplomatic community—where I saw firsthand how global relationships are built on shared experiences and trust.
One moment I’ll never forget was during the Fourth of July celebration I helped organize for San Francisco’s diplomatic community. The event brought together Consul Generals from around the world—from Ireland to China—and in the middle of all the speeches, cultural exchanges, and countless mocktails, it hit me: diplomacy isn’t just about policy. It’s about people. In that moment, I realized I wasn’t “just” a high schooler—I was a bridge between nations. I was helping foster global conversations, one connection at a time.
Each experience—each handshake, meeting, speech, and challenge—deepened my passion for leadership and global affairs. I learned that leadership isn’t about titles or photo ops. It’s about showing up. Listening. Speaking truth. And never forgetting who you’re doing the work for.
So, yes—this has been far from a normal high school experience. I’m leaving not just with memories, but with momentum.
This fall, I’ll be heading to UCLA to study International Politics, carrying with me every surreal experience—from city halls to consulates, from national interviews to global events. And to my classmates: don’t ever underestimate where you can go or who you can become. You’re never too young to change the world—you just have to be brave enough to walk through the door.
