Students deserve to shape the education system that shapes them. From student board trustees to ambassador programs, there are many pathways for youth representation. But how much of that involvement is actually meaningful? With student inclusion comes the risk of tokenization — the surface-level engagement, photo-ops, and titles without any real impact. In contrast, my internship at ACSA this summer showed me what is possible when education leaders truly center their work on students.

At ACSA, I was shown the day-to-day reality of the policymaking process. Behind every bill signed, I learned about the countless coalition meetings that happen months beforehand, where positions are discussed and plans are made. Fine-tuning amendments, long email chains, and negotiations — all of which go unseen in the committee hearings. I got to sit in on meetings with the California Department of Education, legislators, and Capitol staff that sometimes got spicy. Turns out that politics and high school have a lot of things in common.

I saw how policy shapes everything in my school life. From support programs for schools to how long substitutes can fill in for teachers, there’s probably a law for it — and, with it, a bajillion acronyms. The education space was wider and deeper than I could have imagined. I spent hours pouring over long, dense pages of texts, which showed me how change happens through incremental steps and can sometimes be boring to read.

At the same time, I saw how much of this work doesn’t revolve around policy. Networking, social capital, and genuine relationships matter just as much, if not more. As a non-coffee drinker, I have had way too many coffees in this past month to satisfy a lifetime. I was put to my socialization limits, talking with countless people who showed me their perspectives, work experiences, and journeys into this world. I overcame the fear of networking through honest, real conversations — letting go of the “overthinker” inside of me.

Besides observing this world, I actively participated in the process. I gave public comment at a State Board of Education meeting, presented on the budget bill, and attended a student leadership event. These experiences taught me how meaningful student involvement can be when it is intentional and focused on uplifting our voices. But it could not have been possible without the awesome ACSA Governmental Relations team and the entire organization that showed a true commitment to giving me an opportunity to lead.

This summer internship has been an invaluable and incredibly wonderful opportunity. I came in a little disillusioned, a little excited, and unsure of what to do, but I came out with a renewed sense of purpose and a second family. And a greater appreciation for the accuracy of “Hamilton.”

Rebecca Yang is a senior at Orange County School of the Arts, a grades 7-12 college prep public charter school in Santa Ana. She hopes to study political science in college.