In 2008, I quit my job, moved out of my apartment, and ventured more than 4000 miles across the country - the furthest away from home I had ever been and first real exposure outside of California I had, to do an unpaid internship in Washington, DC. It was a huge life changing decision that has since shaped the path of my career and life in the most positive ways. I was an accounting major at CSU Fullerton, but with 2008 being a big election year - I got involved in politics and found my way to Dr. Stambough's office and the Poli Sci Department, where he told me about the DC Program. He explained that the program was for all sorts of majors, not just political science. I was intrigued, but skeptical as I knew that these sorts of programs do come at a price, and when you're putting yourself through school, these programs appear to be out of financial reach. However, with the help of Dr. Stambough and donors to the DC program, I was able to obtain scholarship funding that helped fund part of my experience in DC. The opportunities I received in DC have only further helped me to be successful in my life after college. Today - I'm still involved in politics and work in political compliance, effectively balancing both my majors (I came back from DC and added a double major in Poli Sci). I prepare lobbying reports and political contribution reports for a large corporation, and without a doubt - my experience in DC helped me with the skills to succeed in the job I have today.