Kaelyn Hilliard
Remember Your Roots
Kaelyn Hilliard
Fall 2015
If there is one thing I’ve noticed as a Massachusetts native in Washington, DC, it is that Boston has quite a notorious reputation in this city. It’s known for its cold personalities, entitled sports fans, and branded as the city of blue-blooded liberals. But as a Boston insider, I see things quite differently.
I believe Boston is the city of the diehards, sports fanatics, and impassioned political junkies. Its character is built upon the attitude of its people—tough, boastful, and competitive. The people who built the Boston that stands today were the same ones that grew from nothing in the Southie projects and on the streets of Dorchester. They learned to fight quick and fight hard. Never be afraid to play with the big boys in order to win. Make things work or they never will, regardless of background or political belief. This work ethic may seem over the top, but it’s what makes Bostonians the hardest workers with the toughest skin.
This is when I was seven years old and loved to explore the Boston Common and Public Gardens.
This attitude is what keeps me driven and proud to represent Boston in the nation’s capital. I came to Washington, DC with a mission to create an impact for the people I truly care about. I go to work each day with this goal in mind. To me, the size of the task does not matter. No matter how menial or tedious it may be, I recognize that I still have the power to influence the big picture. I will go to ends meet to create a positive change for the community that fostered my fervent passion for politics and the city I love to call home.
Now I am in D.C. ready to create the change for the city that I love.
You may or may not agree with how Bostonians choose to get things done, but there is an important lesson to be learned from my experience—always be proud of your roots. There needs to be a method to the madness, or rather, a reason that drives you to keep fighting for what you believe in. Work toward a goal you are passionate about, no matter how big or small. Working without purpose will not make a difference. Make DC YOUR place to create the change YOU want in the world.
Kaelyn is a senior majoring in Political Science and interning for Congressman Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts.
