In Memory of U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy

Prior to attending law school, I worked for the Democratic party in my hometown. I worked on two separate campaigns and went on to work for one of the local U.S. House of Representatives for my district. I was very good at my job which consisted of writing out answers to questions posed by the local media and dealing with the concerns of local citizens.

I noticed that all those who rose up to positions that really reached and helped a lot of people were individuals who had gone to law school. So that is when I decided to go to law school myself.

My political hero at that time was John F. Kennedy and I was determined to serve my country for I felt as a first generation born American that I had the obligation to the country that had given me so much. At this time in my life, I thought happiness was external and being in law school, I thought, would bring me happiness.

I studied for the law school board exams and did well. I then sent out applications to various schools. Finally I was accepted to one school which was located in Boston and I was thrilled. Boston was the hometown of my political hero and immediately I decided I would try to get a gig at Senator Kennedy’s office.

The Turning Point

By the end of my first year of law school, I had every single thing I wanted: the dream apartment (located in a high rise building just two blocks away from where JFK had lived), I was in law school and had my dream job (working at Senator Kennedy’s office). The irony is that I never felt more miserable in my life and that is when my quest for happiness went into full pursuit. My Buddhist studies would begin six months later.

That summer was the turning point in my life and I am so grateful to have had the chance to work for someone who was truly in love with his career. When I went to my interview, they took me to his office which was on the top floor of the John F. Kennedy Federal Building in Boston. I walked in and literally gasped.

It was a beautiful day and all of Boston Harbor was below me. It was a sight I will never forget. Along the walls of the office were pictures and letters from people I had read about in books. I remember looking at a letter that JFK had written to Senator Kennedy and I could have cried. Here I was, a girl from New Jersey, standing in the office of the brother of my political idol. It was a dream come true.

When I was interviewed by one of Senator Kennedy’s staff, she asked me why I wanted to work for him and I simply said that the greatest thing a person can do in life is to help others and I wanted to help as many people as I could. By the end of the interview, they told me that the position was mine. 

The first day on the job was intense, for this office was unlike any political office I had ever worked in before. I quickly learned that in order to be a very good politician you need a lot of money because when you have a lot, you can do so much more. Each day I worked with people who were determined to make the world a better place. We debated all kinds of issues and it was a lot of fun.

Sitting Shoulder to Shoulder

When I first saw Senator Kennedy, I was shocked at how small he was. I always thought he would be this super huge man but he was not. He was very kind and humble. The first time I saw him in a meeting, he did not sit at the head of the table, he sat shoulder to shoulder with his staff. He did not seem to have a huge ego and his desire to help people was very sincere.

Whenever one of the people he represented needed his help, we were instructed to do as much as we could and we usually did our best. When I was there, we helped rescue an American citizen who was held in jail in a small foreign country. Once Senator Kennedy’s name was mentioned in the negotiations followed quickly by a letter signed by him, we were able to get that young man out of jail within a few days.

I still have the thank you letter from the young man’s family because the whole experience taught me that the greatest thing a human being can do is to help another human being in need. Senator Kennedy used his power to help others.

The time that I spent working at Senator Kennedy’s office was an experience I will always hold dear in my heart. It marked the beginning of my intense happiness/spiritual quest and truly made me a better person. Often in life, people talk about wanting money, yet no one ever talks about how they will use that money to help others. Senator Kennedy was wealthy and could have easily spent his days enjoying the money that he had. However, he chose to serve his country and help those in need.

Each day at his office felt amazing because we all knew on some level that we were doing something good. His enthusiasm for his country and his desire to help were contagious. I think seeing that energy every day, even when he was not in the office, made me realize that I wanted to feel like that all the time. I eventually came to see that a career in politics was not for me so I knew I had to switch paths but my desire to serve and help make the world better, only became more intense and continues to be a goal of mine.

Regardless of where you are in the world or what your political beliefs may be, in the end we are all human beings living on this tiny planet, trying to find our way. Senator Kennedy was not perfect but he did what he could to help others and in the end, that is to be admired.  For me personally, the time spent at that office marked the beginning of an incredible journey. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to have worked for such a Senator.

 

 

 

 

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