What Does Your Reflection Show?

On June 2nd, 2014, I began my first day as an Intern at the Alzheimer's Association Public Policy office. Little did I know just how much of an impact this place and the staff here would have on my life.

Over the past hour, I've sat in my cubicle, on my exercise ball (& yes, that is my office chair! haha), with my fingers frantically hitting the 'delete' button on the keyboard as I attempt to type my last blog post of the summer. Never in my life have I had so much trouble putting my emotions on paper before; I wish that I could put into words, how I feel about the experiences I've had over the last 3 months of my life, but nothing that I type seems to do it justice. There are only two words I can think of that could even come remotely close to describing the impact this opportunity has had on me.......LIFE CHANGING. 


For the last 22 years of my life, I have been the planner, a girl with her 5-25 year plans written out in complete detail; someone who was afraid of the unknown and terrified of failure; a person who couldn't be satisfied with anything less than perfection in life; an individual who desperately needed a reality check.


My Time with the Alzheimer's Association 

Attended:
       -2 congressional hearings on Capitol Hill 
       -National Alzheimers Project Act meeting @ the Dept of HHS
       -Grassroots Advocacy training @ the Public Affair Council 
       -Medicare Seminar at the Kaiser Family Foundation
       -Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reception
       -Council on State Gov meeting for Suggested State Legislature

Faced My fear of Failure/Perfectionism/Unknown:
       -Starred in a video while discussing the importance of the Alzheimer's Advocate/Ambassador Program and providing enough video footage to create a 25 min film full of nothing but bloopers! 

       -Wanted to bang my head against the wall multiple times after learning how difficult it is to research state legislation for my 'Silver Alert' legislation spreadsheet and map project

       -Was terrified when I was told that I was going to better my public speaking skills by hosting a 1 hour monthly conference call with 150+ Alzheimer's Ambassadors on the line

       -Managed to find a way to take 8 hours worth of information that I learned at the Medicare seminar, and condense it to an 8 min power point presentation for all of the staff at the Alz office

Other Amazing Projects: 
       -Updated multiple spreadsheets/calendars for both the Public Health Team and Federal Affairs team

       -Conducted data analyses for various projects with the State Affairs team 

       -Given the opportunity to share my thoughts and suggestions on several of the programs here at the office 

       -Participated in our staff outing to the Spy museum for a Scavenger Hunt (Team Charlie for the Win!) 

       -Plus MANY more amazing projects 

I came into this internship, not knowing if public/health policy was something that I could ever see myself being passionate about. After 64 days of being completely immersed into the world of Public Policy in Washington, DC, I've completely fallen in love with it, and know that I have finally found my calling in life. 


My Summer Adventures & Challenges in DC

- Became an expert at asking for directions after getting lost countless times on the metro, in buildings and on streets in the city.     
  
- Faced my fear of getting hit by a car or hitting a pedestrian and FINALLY rode my bike to work on my VERY LAST DAY as an intern

- Got up the courage to venture out to a happy hour by myself and met an AMAZING group of friends in the process! (Shout out to the Brothel!- 4 guys and 4 girls all in their 20's and living in one giant house...what else would you expect them to call their-selves? haha)

- Went drunk river tubing (with 50 people) down the Shenandoah river...in which our group of 5, 'Team Terrible', managed to break 3 sandals, lose an iphone, a pair of ray bans, and leave a trail of empty beer cans floating down the river behind us. Even better than that, it started pouring down rain on us && we had an 1.5 hour bus ride home with a blown tire. <- What an adventure!

- Still haven't learned to wear sneakers to walk to work like the rest of DC (& that's after 60+ blisters over the last 3 months)

- Managed to make it through my trip back to DC from NC after blowing a tire on I-95 in Richmond at 8:30pm, having every decent hotel within 15 miles be sold out due to a ONE NIGHT baseball tournament being in town (finally finding one available in Ashland, VA), finding a shop to get a new tire the next morning and finally making it back to DC after 16 hours of traveling.

- Managed to locate the ONLY Chickfila in ALL of DC!--A Chickfila food truck! and purchased 3 sandwiches so that I could savor them for my times of 'Southern Withdrawals'

- Packed up my life multiple times as I had to move to new housing 3 times in a matter of two months. 

- Starting a new job this coming Tuesday with No place to call home right now, as I have to move out of my current housing this weekend and have yet to find somewhere new. (Here's to crashing on couches the next week or two! haha) 


Throughout my crazy adventures in DC and my experiences with the Alzheimer's Association, I've been challenged in every single way I could imagine...and have had my life changed completely. 

When I blow out 23 candles this Sunday, I will be saying goodbye to 22 years of 'my fears' and 'never being able to just go with the flow in life'...as I reflect on the moments in these last 3 months that have made that possible. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this experience with me; welcoming me with open arms, pushing me to overcome obstacles, giving me some of the most amazing life advice I could ever hope for and helping me to find myself in this world. 

Today, I began my very last day as an Intern here at the Alzheimer's Association Public Policy office. As I leave today, I will leave as an official Young Professional in the Public Policy world...Alz. Association staff: don't think that you are getting rid of me completely now, cause I'll be back! haha--My DC adventure is just beginning :) 

Cheers! <3

Rejection: Does it make you Bitter or Better?

Recently, I received a rejection letter for a health policy position that I had applied for. Deep down, I know how competitive the job market is, but a part of me thought that I've worked so hard to get where I am today, and surely any company would recognize my potential and dedication. So, It stung a little and knocked me on my ass for a brief second; and then I realized that rejection is inevitable & that even my best is NOT always going to be good enough. But that is life. Rejection is how we learn and grow; it’s what makes us get up, brush the dirt off of ourselves, and hit the ground running harder than ever before. 

Some of the most successful people in the world were rejected at one point in their lives...

1: Abraham Lincoln failed in business 3 times and also failed campaigning 7 times prior to becoming a United States President

2: Hilary Clinton was rejected as an applicant to NASA because "girls couldn’t become astronauts"

3: (Colonel) Sanders had his fried chicken recipe rejected 1,009 times before becoming the founder of KFC.

4: Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team when he was a sophomore; he was told he "wasn’t good enough".

5: Oprah Winfrey was fired from her job as a junior reporter after being told by her producer that she "wasn’t fit for television"

6: Soichiro Honda was turned down by Toyota during a job interview for an engineering position. And yes, I do mean ‘THAT’ Honda.

7: Vera Wang became an editor at Vogue magazine but was later rejected from the editor-in-chief position. She now is one of the most talented fashion designers in the industry, with a $1 billion business. 

8: Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) was rejected by 27 different publishers after writing his first book. Today, his books have sold over 600 million copies. 

9: Babe Ruth was known for his home run record (714 during his baseball career); but did you know that for many decades, he also held the record for the most strikeouts (1,330)? 

10: Walt Disney himself was fired by a news editor who said that he "lacked imagination". He also had first company go bankrupt. I think we all know successful he went on to be later in life. 


Being rejected from something should not cause you to be bitter; but instead, cause you to be better. Take it & post it on your mirror where you can see it every day & remind yourself that rejection happens to people who push the envelope in life, the ones that take risks, and reach for impossible...so never give up.

A quote that I keep close to me as a daily reminder is one from Macklemore... "The greats weren't great because at birth they could paint, the greats were great because they paint a lot".

So, my challenge to you is to let go of your fear of rejection (just as I am currently learning to do). Instead, use it to your advantage, use it as motivation; pick up that brush, stand up that easel, and continue painting...one day, it will all be worth it. 

Tricks of the Trade- DC Food Lovers!

Washington, DC is like a sample platter; There is a little bit of something to do for pretty much every type of person! Whether you are a food condos-or, an outdoor adventure seeker, a nightlife kind of person or the typical touristy type of  individual...you are BOUND to find something of your liking here in the city! 

This Tricks of the Trade post is specifically for all of the food lovers out there, welcome to heaven! DC is known for having an amazing selection of culturally diverse food choices ranging from food trucks, to inexpensive (but delicious) little hole in the wall diner spots, to some very ravishing upscale dining options. Since living here this summer, I have made it a point to expand my palate and try new things in the food world; and now I want share with all of y'all my experiences I've had so far! I have developed a list below (that I will continue to update as I try more new things) of reviews of restaurants I have dined at in the city. 

Lunch Time Hot Spots

Chop't (Creative Salad Company) http://www.choptsalad.com/

This quick lunch spot focuses on freshness and quality of its food. The owners have made is their mission to offer only the premium, most ultra-fresh ingredients at the Chop't restaurant. Nothing at Chop't is processed, pre-cut or pre-shredded. Everything is made right in front of you. 

I've only been here once so far, but both the service and food were GREAT when I did try out a Chop't salad. 

Atmosphere: Super Busy! There is ALWAYS a line out the door when I am walking passed this restaurant. But obviously, there's a reason for that..people must love the food!

Time: While some people eat in the restaurant, because it's so busy and because many people are on a time constraint, a lot of people get it to go. The day I went, the line was already at the door..yet I was still able to make it in and out in 10 min! They are super fast at getting your perfect salad all ready for you to enjoy. 

Price: I paid about $10 for my salad once I had gotten all of my favorite ingredients and dressing added. A little pricey for just a salad some would say; however, this salad was huge. I was able to eat it for both lunch and dinner.

Overall: Chop't has a great philosophy and delicious ingredients. Yes, it is super crowded, but worth the wait in line..I promise you that!

Nandos Peri-Peri http://www.nandosperiperi.com/

This lunch spot is famous for their legendary butterfly-cut, flame grilled Peri-Peri chicken. Peri-Peri, also known as African Bird's Eye Chilli, is a spice found in Africa by a few Portuguese explorers years ago. In 2008, this Peri-Peri made its way over to US soil, with the first Nandos restaurant opening its doors on July 3rd on 7th street in Washington, DC (Chinatown). Since the, they have spread our wings by adding 13 more restaurants around the metropolitan area-including locations in the DC, Northern VA and also in Maryland. 

I have fallen under the Nandos curse and eaten at both the Chinatown and Old Town Alexandria locations for a total of 4 times already. 

Atmosphere: Great. very casual and welcoming 

Time: It is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner (you go up to the counter and order your food as soon as you've decided what you would like, in which the staff will then bring it to your table once it's ready) 

Price: I would say that it ranges between $8-$13 per person, depending on how hungry you are. 

Overall: This place is definitely a decent choice I would say. Although, I prefer the Chinatown location over the Old Towne Alexandria location (I feel that I have had a better experience at the Nandos on 7th street with the food and the service)

The Tiny Little Cafes

Oohh's N Aahh's! http://www.oohhsnaahhs.com/

This place is overlooked by many passersby due to the fact that you hardly notice it when you walk by...the one thing that draws these over lookers in is the smell of heaven coming off the grill. Oohh's N Aahh's is known for their Soul Food!...and not just by DC residents, but also by Food Network. This restaurant has been featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives for their Shrimp&Grits and wings! 

I was introduced here by my friend, Brianna. I got the MacNCheese while her and her sister shared the legendary Shrimp and Grits. The food was nothing short of amazing and it far exceeded our expectations. 

Atmosphere: Yes, it seems like a little hole in the wall restaurant (but looks are very deceiving). The staff are very welcoming and they will be sure to show you to the upstairs dining area if you are looking to dine in! 

Time: The chefs here are quick and precise. While my mac and cheese only took about 3 min, the shrimp&grits were ready in less than 10 min. We were out the door with our food in no time, and enjoy our yummy snack in the park area across the street!

Price: Ranging from about $5-$17 per person, the prices here are VERY reasonable for what you are getting. It seems expensive at first when you look at the menu, but once you get your food, I promise that you will definitely be satisfied. 

Overall: I would highly recommend checking this place out while visiting the DC area. Not only is it great food for a great price, it's located right in the heart of U street (which is a very popular area of DC..so there are a lot of fun things right within walking distance)

Fancy Schmancy Dining

1789 http://1789restaurant.com/

If you happen to make your way into Georgetown while visiting DC, be sure to make your way to the upper west side where you will find an elegant stone building with the number, 1789 posted on a plaque; this is where you will want to go to experience an impeccable dinner service. This restaurant has been named one of DC's top 100 restaurants by the Washingtonian for the last 7 years, and has been given the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for the last 11 years. 

My experience at 1789 was over the July 4th holiday while my family and friends were in town. We happened to find the restaurant after returning to the Georgetown dock from our "Booze Cruise". Entering, we felt quite under dressed, however, the wait staff assured us that we were completely fine and welcomed just as if we were the special guests of the evening. I cannot rave enough about how great our waitress was for the night, she appreciated us being inquisitive and was very enthusiastic in answering each of our questions. Moving onto the food quality; everyone really enjoyed their meal at the restaurant. Some of our entrees varied from the veggie choices of the menu, to the steak, as well as the seafood options. Below are a few pictures of a couple of our entrees.

To the right: Teres Major (Beef Shoulder) with grilled asparagus and mushroom bread pudding...with a choice of Horsradish Cream or Bordelaise for the sauce. This dish was a popular pick of the table and it was quite delicious. Sarah and I had the Bordelaise, while mom chose the horseradish; both of which were enjoyed and thought to add a great addition to the steak. The only thing that no one seemed to be a huge fan of was the mushroom bread pudding. It was an interesting combination of flavors. I'm sure it would be perfect for anyone who enjoys both mushrooms and bread pudding though! 

To the Left: Ravioli Carbonara (pancetta, english peas and parmigiano-reggiano. This dish was BY FAR a table favorite. We had both an appetizer portion of it, followed by Amanda ordering it as an entree as well (and we were all hoping that she wouldn't finish it so that we could scavenge off the leftovers). Never in my mind would I have thought that ravioli could taste so good. The pasta had the most incredible texture and flavor you could imagine, while the combination of the cream sauce poured over it was the icing on top of the cake. If you visit 1789, this dish is a MUST HAVE. 

Atmosphere: VERY elegant (however, anything but snobby). While the environment may seem like its a place only for the rich and famous, the staff are very down to earth and will make any/every customer feel at home. 

Time: This is definitely not an in an out kind of place. If you are dining at 1789, be sure to allot enough time for at least an hour and a half dining experience. 

Price: About $30-$50 per person. While this place is quite pricey, you definitely get what you pay for. There are many other restaurants in the DC area in which you could spend just as much on a dinner; however, I can almost guarantee you that the food quality or the service would not compare to what you get while eating here.  

Overall: We came into 1789 like the Beverly Hillbillies! haha. Our attire didn't quite match up to some of the other guests, but that did not matter one bit to the staff; neither did my lack of fine dining etiquette. I would HIGHLY recommend taking a side trip to Georgetown and experiencing 1789 for yourself when visiting DC. You will not be disappointed. 

Bistro Cacao  http://bistrocacao.com/

Over in Capitol Hill, you will find this quaint little restaurant called Bistro Cacao. This restaurant gives you modern bistro-style french cuisine in what I would call a very charming and quite comfortable setting. 

This was my first time actually expanding my palate and attempting to indulge on some types of food that I would have normally every tried before. The food was wonderful, though I would really suggest being open to try new things if you are going to be dining at Bistro Cacao. Aunt Glenda definitely started us off strong with the Salade de Roquette (Baby Arugula Salad, Roasted Pecans, Crumbled Bleu Cheese, Raspberry Vinaigrette) and the Pate de Faisan (Pheasant Pate with French Cornichons and mixed greens), both of which were surprisingly very tasteful. I've never been a big fan of bleu cheese, nor do I usually venture far from my Ranch Dressing, but I must admit that the salad was on point. I could not get enough of it. As far as the Pate, well, it's not quite like anything I've ever had. The texture was a little like bologna, but the taste was very different than such. It was not bad at all though, I even had more than one taste of it! As for our dinner entrees, I was able to remember to take a picture of them so that you can see what I am describing to you. 

Top Left: Aunt Glenda had the best pick of the night with the Herb, Mustard and bread crusted rack of lamb; with a side of roasted potatoes, asparagus and sauteed mushrooms. I had never experienced eating lamb before, but "Oh My Goodness", Bistro Cacao's lamb entree was to die for. It was succulent, finger licking good! The sides were great as well, but the lamb definitely stood out above the rest!

Bottom Left: I played it safe with the Stuffed Chicken breast that had goat cheese, sun dried tomato and spinach; with a side of french green beans and roasted potatoes. My chicken was very good, but I definitely feel that it didn't really stand out from other stuffed chicken breasts that I've had (and I've had many because it is one of my favorites). My green beans and potatoes were completely gone by the end of my meal though; I thought that they were delicious, especially when dipped into the Rosemary Jus that was on my plate.  

Atmosphere: Walking in, it seems as if they only have about 5 tables to sit at, but don't let your eyes deceive you. When Aunt Glenda and I told the host we needed a table for two, he led us deep into the restaurant, through various corridors (each with the most adorable dining set up you ever did see). When we finally got to our table, we were pleasantly surprised at just how comfortable and personable it was. Our dining seats were like living room chairs (but fancy ones of course). Each with a pillow in it, and extremely soft...making the experience even more enticing.  

Time: Do not come here if you are in a hurry for anything! The service was good, but slow. Not because our waiter was extremely busy or because he didn't care to come check on us, but because the entire restaurant was very french (as was our waiter) and so that is just the custom of french dining culture. It took almost 2 hours to complete appetizers and entrees for two of us. 

Price: Dinner would range from about $40-$50 per person here (but that is including drinks and appetizers though). For the quality of the food that you are getting, it's definitely worth it. 

Overall: I would recommend this restaurant to a couple or a small family for sure. I don't think this is the best place to go when dining with a large party because it just wouldn't fit with the whole quiet and cozy atmosphere of the restaurant. If you are with a special someone (Or enjoying a lovely Aunt and Niece dinner) then it is a perfect little spot to check out on the Hill. 

Zantinya http://www.zaytinya.com/

This restaurant is located in the heart of Chinatown and offers a Turkish, Greek and Lebanese inspired cuisine. Chef Jose Andres (owner of Zantinya), is also the owner of other well known restaurants in both DC as well as other happening US cities. This restaurant has consistently been ranking as a top DC dining destination since it opened in 2002. 

Mom, Aunt Glenda and I chose to dine at this restaurant for some culturally diverse cuisine. We sat outside on the patio, and ordered quite a few different things to try since the menu was mezze style. The wait staff seemed to be a little lackluster and not as welcoming as we had previously had at the other restaurants. We started out with two appetizers; one being the Baba Ghannouge spread (fire roasted eggplant, tahini, lemon and garlic) and the Seared Halloumi Cheese (watermelon, tomato and mint); both of which were very tasty. We preferred the Halloumi cheese over the Baba Ghannouge spread just because the spread was a little on the salty side for our liking, however, it was one of those "okay" types of foods. The bread that you use for dipping was DELICIOUS though; light and fluffy, and perfect. Other dishes that we got are pictured and described below. 

To the left: The bread that I just could not get enough of, as well as the Seared Halloumi Cheese (which I would recommend getting if you visit).

To the right: We have the Kotopoulo Youvetsi (chicken, orzo, tomato and kefalograviera cheese)and below it we have the Bantijan Bil Laban (crispy eggplant with a roasted garlic-yogurt sauce). These two dishes were our top two of the night for sure! The texture of the eggplant was perfect, as was the breading that it was fried in. The sauce was a surprise for me; I didn't think I would be a big fan of it, but I was proven wrong when I dipped the crispy eggplant in it. As for the Chicken orzo; well it is difficult to even describe this specific dish as anything other than GREAT. I can't put my finger on what part stood out the most, because it was the combination of all the ingredients coming together that made it so appetizing. 

Top Left: Knisa Lamb Chops (grilled lambrib chops, smoked yogurt tzatziki and caper dill saltsa). I truly think that had the lamb been cooked a little less and had we been given a piece that wasn't as fatty, then it would have been a delicious dish. The flavors were definitely there, we just got the bottom of the barrel of chops I think. haha. 

Bottom Left: Urfa Biftek (grilled hanger steak, traditional Turkish ezme salata, walnuts, peppers and tomato). The steak was decent, but a little over cooked and a tiny bit charred on the outside(maybe because it was such a small portion). However, the walnuts and veggie mixture surrounding the meat was very flavorful and yummy. It definitely added some extra flavor to the steak. In this dish, the veggies were the star while the steak took a back seat for sure. 

Atmosphere: The environment was great, very laid back and casual, however the wait staff just didn't seem very up to par the night we went. We had actually ordered some Brussels sprouts as well (which never even made it to the table...were thinking that the waitress forgot to put the order in for it). 

Time: The wait time and dining time is a perfect balance here. We spent about 45 min- an hour at the restaurant. The food was quick, and each dish came out at different times so that we were able to much on something throughout our entire dining experience. 

Price: About $8-$15 per small dish. The pricing was not too bad, though I did expect a little better service and food quality on a few of the dishes. 

Overall: I think that I would definitely try this restaurant out again for dinner sometime...until I do, I would definitely recommend trying it maybe for a happy hour or something. They do have some great dish options, with some being AMAZING while others are just "so-so". But I do believe that it is a decent upscale restaurant. I would recommend sitting inside though..it seemed to be a lot more wait staff inside (meaning you'd probably receive much better service). 

The Halfway Point.

This week marks the halfway point in my summer adventure here in Washington, DC. I began this journey thinking that 2 months would be the perfect amount of time for me to try & venture out on my own in the world, knowing that I would surely be ready to move back to North Carolina afterward....but as we all know so well, nothing ever quite plays out the way we think it will. After whining about not knowing anyone in the city and being bored for the few couple of weeks, I came to a conclusion that I had two options: 

1) I don't change a thing, and continue to be bored

2) Put on my big girl panties, take some initiative and find myself some friends & things to do. 

Obviously I had to live up to my own motto, and make some changes in order to get new results; and I must say, that stepping out of my comfort zone to meet new people and try new things in DC has been the best decision I've ever made. Over the past few weeks, I've met some AMAZING new friends that have been showing me all the best spots to hangout in the city, I've gone on numerous running adventures on the weekend to explore the different neighborhoods in DC, and I've learned more about myself over the past month than I have in the last 22 years. 

My assignments and projects at the Alzheimer's Association have challenged me to my wit's end...and I love every second of it. The Association staff have welcomed me with open arms, giving me countless opportunities to learn and grow in Public Policy. I've visited Capitol Hill with the Federal Affairs team, meeting with 3 different members of Congress; attended the Council for State Governments forum with the State Affairs team, in which I got to sit in on the Suggested State Legislation Committee meeting; and assisted the Advocacy team with countless projects with the Alzheimer's Ambassador Program. And that's only the beginning......Over the next few weeks, I will be attending the National Alzheimer's Project Act Advisory Board Meeting (which is a long time dream of mine!!), hosting a conference call for more than 400 Ambassadors, and even starring in a video that we're going to be making! 

I've met a group of friends in DC that are absolutely amazing! It's 8 people (4 guys and 4 girls) that all live in one house together and call themselves "The Brothel!" haha. Every one of them comes from a different background with different types of jobs around DC (Energy Consultant, High School Teacher, Live Events Coordinator at NPR!..plus more). They've immersed me into the night life here in the city, shown me all the best spots to hang, and have even given me the title of being an "Honorary Broth-lite"!  I am so lucky to have found such great people while I'm here. 

I've tried to make time for evening runs around the city at least 4-5 nights a week so that I can explore my surroundings, and I must say that I have definitely found some hidden treasures in the city. I've ventured from gorgeous residential areas such as Logan Circle and Dupont Circle, the ritzy areas of Old Towne Alexandria and Georgetown, and to the popular bar hopping neighborhoods of Adams Morgan and U street. 

I know I've been a little slack on my blogging lately; but as you can tell, I have been super busy lately. I wanted to update everyone on how my first month has gone & give a little taste of some of the exciting memories I've made so far. Look forward to a few new posts this coming week on "tricks of the trade" where I will share all of my secrets to living/visiting in DC! 

Mending A Broken Promise

I know that many people already have the background knowledge in understanding why Alzheimer's disease has become such a large part of my life; however, I feel that it is important that I share my story and explain why I do what I do. Below is an excerpt from my entry essay into the Public Health Program at UNC Charlotte; in which I hope it will help to illustrate my reasoning for choosing a career path that I am so passionate about. Enjoy :) 

       I would like to one day, be able to consider my profession not just a job, but an identity. I hope to find a career that I fall in love with and inspire others to get involved with as well. For when others make inquiries about my job, I want to be able to smile, without hesitation, and be able to respond, “This is not just what I do, it is who I have become”. When I imagine all the possible scenarios of what my life will entail in the next five to twenty-five years, Alzheimer's makes an appearance in every single one. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I wasn't fighting to create a world without this wretched disease.

       In today’s society, it seems that too many people share the common career goal of just desiring to make lots of money, placing little to no importance on whether they truly enjoy their job or not. However, I have more important priorities when it comes to my overall career goal. I believe the careers that turn out to be the most rewarding, are the ones in which you are beyond any doubt, passionate about. For me, that passion is Alzheimer’s disease.

Growing up, I was always close with my grandmother. We did absolutely everything together; it was like we were inseparable. Then when I started high school, I began noticing changes in her personality. My grandma began having sporadic episodes where she would forget things, or would become paranoid about certain situations. That is when my mom informed me that Maw-Maw had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Just like my grandmother, when I am not satisfied with something, I become committed to doing anything in my power to change the end result. In the back of my mind, I realized that her symptoms would continue to progress and the disease would ultimately take her life away; however, I refused to accept that outcome. I made a promise to both myself and Maw-Maw that I would do anything I could to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Looking back, the moment that I made this promise, is the moment my future career goal was put into place. 

My journey towards fulfilling the promise I made to my grandma began with care-giving for her. Since my grandpa had decided not to put her into an Alzheimer’s care unit, my mother and I committed ourselves to helping be the primary caregivers for Maw-Maw (with the additional assistance from many of our family members as well). There were the good days, where grandma felt well enough to go out shopping or to the movies. Then there were the bad days, where she would have emotional hallucinations, which led to extreme paranoia. As time passed, Maw-Maw’s good days began withering away; leaving me taking care of a woman whom I no longer recognized as once my best friend. Still I fought; I researched all kinds of possible medications to slow down the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, as well as, clinical trials for patients like her; feeling defeated when I found that nothing could cure her.

In September 2011, my grandma fell and hit her head, requiring surgery on her eye. Not long after that, she took a turn for the worse with her Alzheimer’s and she stopped eating and drinking altogether. I begged the doctor to do something, knowing that I couldn’t break my promise I made to her. Yet, he explained to me there was nothing more we could do except making her comfortable during her final days. Nothing in this world was more unbearable than having to stand and watch this awful disease destroy the life of such an amazing woman. 

October 8th, 2011, my mother, grandpa and I held Maw-Maw’s hand as she passed away. I felt as though I had failed her; I wasn’t able to cure her from that dreadful disease like I had promised to try and do. I realized that I had two options; I could either erase Alzheimer’s from my life altogether, or I could take my experiences with my grandmother’s illness and turn it into an opportunity to help others who suffer from this disease. Despite knowing that it would be easier just to forget about Alzheimer’s; helping my grandma fight her battle for more than six years, I had become too emotionally invested with this disease to surrender so easily. I realized that MEMORIES ARE MEANT TO LAST FOREVER, and so that is why I joined the fight to end Alzheimer's.

As of today, I have raised over $4,500 for Alzheimer's Research and Care in the last 5 years(with the help from my amazingly supportive family and friends). We've participated in 3 Walk to End Alzheimer's events and even hosted our own Spaghetti supper & silent auction fundraiser for Alzheimer's. I am honored to have had the opportunity to intern with the Western Carolina Chapter of the Alz Association last August-December, as well as being given the opportunity to grow even more by interning with the Washington, DC-Public Policy office of the Association. 

     Though I am proud of these achievements, I still have countless goals I hope to accomplish in the future in attempts to help seize the burden that Alzheimer’s is causing on our society; Whether it be encouraging others to raise awareness, presenting ideas for future programs and policies, being a part of an Alzheimer’s advisory board, or researching to find a cause, I will continue to fight until the day that I mend the broken promise I once made to Maw-Maw. 

Time to Take Action!

Nearly 5.2 million people in the United States have Alzheimer's Disease at this very moment; but what most people don't understand is that this disease is FATAL. There is no treatment to slow the progression, nor is there a cure. This year alone, Medicaid and Medicare are expected to pay $150 BILLION for health care, long term care, and hospice for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias. This disease is going to bankrupt our country if we do not take action immediately! 

I have begun a mini side project at my internship and I need your Help! It's got to do with social networking, so I know it's right up most of you all's alleys! 

Below is a link to a website with information on the Alzheimer's Association's newest piece of legislation, the Alzheimer's Accountability Act. Along with this information, there is a petition that we are asking people to take part in. A notification goes directly to your member of congress when you participate in this petition; which is vital in grabbing the government's attention and showing them how important this cause is to us! Take the initiative and encourage them to take action now! 

1) Click on the link below 
2) Go to the upper righthand corner of the page and click register! If you have a facebook, you can click the facebook icon and register directly with that! 
3) Choose your position on the Alz Accountability Act! Support or Oppose?
4) Fill out the requested information (a pain, I know) 
5) After you finish, share the link on facebook, twitter, email, or however you'd like. Tell your friends how important this cause is to you and to participate in the petition as well!

READY, SET, GO! 

POPVOX Petition- Alzheimer's Accountability Act!

I look forward to checking back on the website & seeing a HUGE increase in numbers of individuals who have decided to take action! Thanks so much guys! 

Also, below is the 2014 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures Video as an additional resource for those who are interested in finding out just how much of an impact this disease is making on our Country! 

WELCOME!!!

 1212 New York Ave NW
Washington, DC 20005

Take a good look at the picture above; I hope you love the background as much as I do, because this building behind me is what I'd like to introduce you to as "my home away from home" until the end of July. This is your official welcome to the Public Policy Office of the Alzheimer's Association...ready for your behind the scenes tour? 

On the morning of June 2nd, as I stepped off of the elevator and into the front hallway of the 8th floor, I was taken back by my very first sight of the Alz. Association-Washington, DC office. With crystal clear glass walls, the perfect touch of purple accents, and an 8ft tall etching of the official Alz. Association symbol being the center focal point of the front room; it was everything I could have imagined. I had to pause for a second and let it sink in that my very first step into this office would symbolize another accomplishment in working towards achieving my dream of one day being an Alzheimer's Association Staff Member. 

I go to swing the door open and march my way in &...SMACK! It was locked, and it now displayed a lovely imprint of my face on the glass door. Since I was too clueless to think of ringing the doorbell, I waited until a staff member was coming off the elevator, unlocked the door and led me to one of the lobby chairs to wait for my internship adviser. I sat there, drinking my bottled water when I lost my grip and spilled it in the chair....GREAT. Trying to scoop the spilled water off the seat and back into my bottle so no one would notice, I thought to myself, "I should write a HOW TO GUIDE for Embarrassing Yourself!" <- Luckily, I don't think anyone noticed my mishaps; however, they do now! haha! Sorry for the mess guys! :) 

Coming into this internship, I was expecting to be one of at least 3-4 interns in the office, and that I'd be lucky to even have a chair and shared table as my workspace. To my surprise though, I was informed that I'm the ONE AND ONLY intern for the summer & I even got my own desk right in the middle of all the other staff members. I have my own phone line and even my very own ALZ.ORG email account! I could get used to this!

Take a step into my office ;) Since everyone else has lots of little personal touches added to their workspace, I decided why not add some character to my desk as well! I taped up the only two pictures that I got to bring with me to DC (one with me and my maw maw, and the other with the two of us plus my momma). I added a poem that I wrote about Alzheimer's disease back in 2010 for some inspiration, as well as a list of Internship Goals that I have for myself while I'm here. 

The last stop of this segment of the behind the scenes tour is my favorite room in the office, the grand conference room! This, ladies and gentlemen, "Is where the Sausage is made" as they say a lot here in DC. HAHA. From weekly staff meetings, to phone conferences with over 500 advocates at one time, or monthly conference calls with all of the Alz Chapters throughout the nation, a lot of imperative tasks go on in this room. 

I never realized just how much actually goes into making the Alzheimer's Association such a successful non-profit organization, but it's not a simple task. There is no such thing as unimportant busy work here because EVERYTHING is important; sometimes the littlest detail can be biggest make/break moment in a project. Working for the Alzheimer's Association is no typical 9am-5pm job; working late nights and into the weekends, traveling across the country for seminars and conferences, and spending their spare time reaching out to Advocates/Ambassadors/Members of Congress, these staff members put their heart and soul into what they do. 

I'm honored to be included as a member of the team being in my 2nd internship with the Alzheimer's Association (my first one being with the Western Carolina Chapter...Shoutout to my awesome mentors there, Scott Herrick and Lesha Dodson!) Finishing up my second week as an intern here in DC, I have been working on a few great assignments already, with some even more spectacular projects coming my way soon! Even though they may require me to put on my big girl panties and step out of my comfort zone, I'm ready to take on whatever task they hand me! Keep checking in to see what kind of crazy DC adventures I get myself into next! 

 Until then, Toodles! :)