by Joshua Neil
I started the school year off excited to be able to gain knowledge and experience from PJALS. Now I have a little over a week left of my undergraduate career and I’m wondering where the time went! My time as an intern at PJALS has been so enriching. I have learned so much about the issues I’ve worked on, and at the same time I’ve learned more about myself. The thing I will remember most about my practicum experience is the people. I have been able to learn so much just by interacting with Liz and Shar as well as the vast experience of our invaluable volunteers and members.
While here at PJALS I have had the incredible opportunity to advocate for our community. The campaign I am most proud to have worked on was the Washington State Freedom to Marry campaign with Referendum 74. While phone banking one evening, I was talking with a lady about her thoughts of the referendum and she was unsure how she would vote. I felt I made an impact on her and her thought processes. While I will never know how she voted during the election, I am hopeful she is on a path towards acceptance for all peoples.
I am looking forward to the future, I have had the values and drive to influence change instilled in me from working at PJALS. I will be taking a break from school before returning to pursue my masters of social work. Right now the future is unknown to me and I am trying to live in the present, but I know I am looking forward to continuing to volunteer with PJALS in the future. I want to thank everyone I have had the opportunity to work with while being here. I would especially like to thank Liz, Shar, Suzy and Rebecca Lamb. You have all had a positive impact on my life. I will miss coming into the office.