Hi! My name is Kaitlyn Perrault, and I’m a law and public policy major from Leominster, Massachusetts. I’m a rising junior in the O’Neill School, and I’m excited to share a bit more about the amazing experience I’ve had over the past few weeks with the NextGen Summer Policy Academy.
BERKELEY, Calif. — On June 22nd, I said a final goodbye to my new friends who were headed off to the University of Washington and the Humphrey School at the University of Minnesota. Although the goodbye was bittersweet, I’m incredibly thankful for the late-night trivia games, museum trips, and ice cream outings we shared.
Along with 25 other students, I boarded a bus to the airport, where we would soon catch our next flight, also fully funded by the NextGen and Summer Policy Academy. Before we knew it, we had arrived at the Goldman School of Public Policy, surrounded by palm trees and enjoying the much cooler weather compared to the humid and scorching heat of D.C. That evening, a group of students and I explored the campus, followed by an early morning coffee run before our first Law and Public Policy class.
Our first class, led by Nancy A. Beninati, Supervising Deputy Attorney General at the California Department of Justice and a key figure in developing laws implementing California’s Racial and Identity Profiling Act, was a great success. We spent time reviewing the course structure, learning how to think like lawyers, practice critical thinking skills, and read legal texts using statutory interpretation. Together, we discussed the U.S. Constitution and the upcoming moot court each student would participate in.
The Goldman School prides itself on generating and sharing knowledge that creates a transformational academic and cultural experience. I can say with confidence that it lived up to that mission during our two weeks on the Berkeley campus. When we spoke with the Goldman School Dean, Dean David C. Wilson, he told us that the value of a summer policy academy lies in the idea that democracy means something different to everyone, and that these three weeks would help us learn how to apply the toolkit we’re each building to every area of our lives. Public policy shapes how democracy is perceived and practiced, and it is the foundation of student democracy on every campus.
Each student entered this program at a different point in their academic journey. But each of us left with sharpened professional skills, a stronger ability to remain present, greater clarity about our next steps, and a deeper understanding of the meaning behind our actions.
While in California, we spent a day at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in Oakland, toured the State Capitol in Sacramento, enjoyed dinner at a Michelin-Star restaurant, visited San Francisco, and met with several public servants who generously shared their experiences and insights. Toward the end of our stay, we were welcomed into Berkeley Law School for a tour and a private admissions session with Alice Young.
We were encouraged to challenge ourselves, to avoid comfort zones, and to surround ourselves with people who are different from us and who hold different beliefs. If I could offer one piece of advice to any student, it would be just that. I hope future students continue to apply and take part in this program because if I could do it ten times over again, I would in a heartbeat.
Leave a Reply