My World Michelle Anna Brier

My mother was born and raised in Vietnam. My father is a fifth-generation Californian whose family journeyed across Death Valley in the 19th century. My aunts are Taiwanese and Singaporean, and my cousin is Italian. With this mixed background, I grew up in the diverse Bay Area, in which I was exposed to cultures from around the world. Global perspectives are all I have ever known.

My large, hectic family has a range of opinions as diverse as our multitude of ethnicities and backgrounds. Growing up hearing spirited (but friendly) political debates at family gatherings, I developed a love of politics. As I matured, I sought out people and situations that stimulated me intellectually, exposed me to alternate viewpoints, and allowed me to express my opinions. Eventually, I realized that the political world embodies that very environment.

In high school, I found exactly the world I was seeking when I joined my school’s “We the People” team, a part of a civics education program in which students simulate congressional hearings in front of panels of judges. With the team, I visited Washington, D.C. for a week as a part of a Washington Workshops program to interview Congressmen, talk to academic speakers, and prepare for our...