First person: Déjà vu on the House floor
Jun 16, 2026
Sitting in the viewing gallery of the United States House of Representatives, I was struck by a feeling of deja vu. The debates unfolding below me felt remarkably similar to the Congress simulation class I took with Professor Renee Van Vechten during my sophomore year at Redlands. In that course, we stepped into the role of a member of Congress, proposing bills and holding committee hearings that culminated in a floor session where we debated and voted on each bill. Seeing the real process take place just a few feet away showed me how closely our simulation reflected the reality of Congress. It was so exciting to understand what was happening in front of me and connect it back to what I’d learned in class.
I spent one month in Washington, D.C. for Professor Greg Thorson’s Policy Making May Term course, where, in addition to exploring the city and visiting the Capitol, we had the opportunity to hear from Redlands alumni every day. The Redlands alumni network in DC is impressive, and it provided me with a sense of the career possibilities. Meeting alumni who were involved in the same clubs, honor societies, and organizations when they were at Redlands as I am now, encouraged me to continue being involved on campus. Hearing their advice for how to build a successful career made me consider the real possibility that I could see myself in their shoes and envision a future in public service.
The trip serves as a reminder of the value of my Redlands education — and to the real-world implications that have led me to a deeper understanding of how policy is made.