Spring Lobby Weekend makes you feel so empowered. We are powerful. People listen. Once you realize you’re talking to someone who works for you, you’re not as nervous. I look forward to it every year—it’s one of my favorite experiences.
My first year, as a nervous 18-year-old, I was shaking before my first meeting. It was solo! But I’ve watched people go from not knowing anything, to speaking knowledgeably—and the politicians listen and take notes.
It’s easy to get discouraged by Congress. But what a Congressperson puts on their agenda is shaped by their constituents. So if you write a letter, make a call, you can get on that agenda.
I hope to encourage more people to tell their stories. FCNL is unique in that it empowers people to tell their stories. You can see a staffer’s eyes light up when you do. Everyone has a connection to any given issue. You can flip a situation and make the difference in how someone votes. There is a lot that you can do.
It’s an emotional thing for me to say goodbye to my group that comes here from Bryn Mawr. FCNL helped me to find myself and my place and to know how to channel my passion. FCNL helped me to form close friendships. It’s empowering. So many of us have been shown how we can make a difference.
I’m grateful to FCNL for being part of our journey.
Isabel is a Senior at Bryn Mawr College. Isabel attended Spring Lobby Weekend for the fourth time in 2018.