The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Lauren L. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Take Action - Shadow Experience
After receiving a phone call from the offices of Representative John Proos several days earlier, I was more than excited to be interning for him that Saturday. I was ready to do any and all of the minuscule tasks that he would ask of me. I was prepared to serve in helping him win his campaign. I had the idea in my head that Rep. Proos was somebody special and that to him, I would just be another volunteer.
When I drove up to the Rep. Proos’ house, I was rather taken aback. He lived in a small, humble home. It looked just like any other home on the block –nothing fancy or particularly interesting. Walking up the driveway towards the garage, I felt a jolt of nervous and excited energy race through my veins. Who do I find when I step into the garage? None other than Representative John Proos. He was stapling yard signs together while all of his interns sat inside his warm house. I was amazed by the amount of dedication and personal hard work that he was giving in order to win his campaign.
When I went inside his home, my impression of Representative Proos was further deepened. His wife greeted me with a smile and offered me some breakfast, freshly prepared by her. I politely declined and instead offered my hand in help. Gratefully, Mrs. Proos took me past her dining room scattered with toys and into the den to meet the assistants. They, too, greeted me with huge smiles and told me that I could start work by looking up addresses where we were going to put up campaign signs that day. Quickly, I jumped onto the computer and I went to work for several hours.
By noon, volunteers began to show up at the Proos’ house. Like everyone else, Rep. and Mrs. Proos greeted them, welcomed them and offered them food. After a short debriefing session, I was sent off with one of the assistants, Kim, to place signs in peoples’ yards around Berrien County. While everyone else gathered their signs and handouts, Rep. Proos began washing the dirty dishes that the volunteers left behind. How does he have time for that? He’s supposed to be busy and too important for petty tasks like washing dishes. So I walked up to him and offered to take the job over. He declined, only replying that he was simply washing the dirty dishes and by no stretch of the imagination was he above that.
After running around Berrien County with Kim for several hours, I learned that Rep. Proos had gone out to do the same task as well. He even brought along his kids to help him! By the end of the day, Rep. Proos had left a strong impression on me –beyond all else, he was a humble and dedicated man. Serving food, telling stories, treating and talking to each person like an individual, he embodied the characteristics that I believe a good politician needs. He believed in bettering his community so much that he was willing to devote all of his personal time and work to it. I came to Rep. Proos home that day simply humbled to be working under him and I left understanding that he felt the exact same way about me.
