One of the things I have learned from my job and the people I have encountered lately is that there is a quality sadly lacking in many Americans; a wiliness to work.  To me working hard is just something I do; it is something my parents taught me.  When I started my job, people were surprised at what I was willing to do and how much I got done.  To me, I wasn’t doing anything special.

Working at the job I do, I am constantly encountering people that don’t really want to work.  Everything from staffers, legislators, activist groups, and constituents want things handed to them and not to have to do real work.  (Note; the legislator I work for and my co-workers are exceptions).

When pondering the reason for this malady, I have made a few observations on why people are this way.

There is much more I could say on the subject, but I think that is all for now.  Do you have any thoughts?

So, you’re going to send your Representative a letter, but want to make sure he hears about it?  Do you have an issue that is close to your heart and want to let you elected official know about it?  Step right up to learn, from someone who has dealt with the mail, how to get noticed.

Next time on "A legislative view"; Visiting your representative 101.

Okay, I admit it, I can be a snob.  I was homeschooled all the way, so I tend to think that a lot of education issues would be solved if more people would homeschool.  But let’s be honest; there are a huge number of people that for one reason or another can’t homeschool, or it would be a bad choice for them.  I knew a dear family that tried homeschooling, and it just didn’t work for them.

When my co-workers asked if I would attend a seminar on behalf of the office on online education I said yes, but was prepared to be bored out of my mind.  I mean, what did I care about the subject?  With that in mind I headed for the conference, little knowing that I was in for a big surprise.

The keynote speaker was a man by the name of Michael Horn.  He and many others talked about the amazing potential for online education.  After about fifteen minutes I was enjoying myself.  It was so neat to hear about something that could truly help the broken education system.  Online education could easily make it so that every child, including homeschoolers, can have access to classes and experts that they haven’t had before.

Although I enjoyed the seminar immensely, I was reminded of something that I too often forget; homeschooling is not an option for everyone.  We who are homeschooled often forget that fact and point our fingers at the public education system.  Yes, they have an issue, that is why our parents chose to keep us home, but that doesn’t mean we should write them off.  We should be champions of bettering the education system for those who need it.

Well, that is what I learned this week on the job.  What have you been learning?

So what have I been doing at my new job?  A lot of research.  That may sound boring, but I am truly enjoying it.  I love learning, so researching is a great job for me.  I have learned so much about different groups and issues already, it’s amazing.  Who knew that raw milk had an enzyme that overcame lactose, or that there are so many websites set up to help people in state legislature?

Research can be boring at times, I admit.  I have found that teachers are right after lawyers in how dry their writing can be.  I have also learned that it can take days of work to make a two page summary on an issue for my boss.  I didn’t know how long it took to do those nice summaries that I see everywhere.  Now that I know, I am a lot more thankful.

I’m really excited about what I’m being allowed to do and all that I am learning.  I look forward to sharing some of that with you in the coming days.

As it turned out, even though my official days to work at the capitol are Mondays and Thursdays, I worked Tuesday through Thursday of this week.  It wasn’t that there was a lot to do (there never is the first few days of a session); it was that there were a lot of things that our office had to get organized.  I am happy to say I’m now set up and ready to go when I go back next Thursday.  The reason I’m not going Monday being that it is MLK day, the only holiday celebrated by the Texas legislature.

The following is a list of things that I have learned in my first few days on the job.

That sums up my first week on the job, how was yours?

Wow!  What an amazing first day of work.  It was freezing when I arrived at the capitol and had to walk in the wind to get inside. That was the worst part of my day, and that wasn't too bad.

When I reached the office of my representative, the chief-of-staff, a neat guy I worked with on the campaign, was the only one there.  He took me on a tour and showed me some of the places I need to go then took me to pick up my badge.  Badges are funny things; they make you feel so official and important.  I definitely felt like a real employee once I clipped my badge on.

The first day was all fun and smiles.  People were excited to see their legislators sworn in, no battles have started yet, and everything is new and exciting.  I met some great people, started to learn how to navigate through the huge building, and was reminded how blessed I was to work in a place full of history makers.

Tomorrow, I will be returning for staff meetings and to learn more about what I will be doing.   I am excited as well as a little nervous.  I just hope that I will do my boss, and my father in heaven, proud.